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LIBRA.RY 

OP   THE 

Theolorjical    Se-minary, 

PRTiSTCETON,  ■  N.  J. 

7ri.se,     .H^C— -^--      'Pivision... 

C^  I -D       Section... 


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INTERESTING 


NARRATIVES 

FROM  THE 

SACRED  VOLUME, 

ILLUSTRATED  AND  IMPROVED. 

BY    THE 

REV.  JOSEPH  BELCHER. 


FROM  THE  SECOND  LONDON  EDITION. 


NEW-YORK: 

ROBERT  CARTER,  58  CANAL  STREET. 
1839. 


New-York: 

Prioted  by  Scatciierd  &  Adams, 

No.  38  Gold  Street. 


PREFACE. 


Whoever  lias  taken  a  view  of  the  litera- 
ture of  the  present  age,  must  have  been 
pleased  with  the  efforts  made,  in  a  thou- 
sand different  ways,  to  simplify  and  ex- 
tend the  most  important  branches  of  in- 
formation, both  human  and  divine.  The 
day  has  for  ever  passed  when  the  key  of 
knowledge  was  confined  to  a  privileged 
class  ;  the  door  is  now  thrown  open,  and 
even  the  poorest  are  invited  to  partake  of 
the  feast  of  intellectual  pleasures. 

But  while  religious  truths  have  been 
vsimplified,  they  have,  in  too  many  cases, 
been  presented  to  their  readers  in  a  man- 
ner that  appears  to  the  writer  of  this  vo- 
lume objectionable.      Fiction   has   been 


IV  PREFACE. 

blended  with  facts,  and  while  the  imagi- 
nation has  been  pleased,  the  mind  has  be- 
come enervated  and  unfitted  for  solid  and 
useful  studies. 

It  furnishes  no  answer  to  this  objection 
to. say,  that  there  are  a  class  of  persons 
who  will  not  read  unless  a  subject  can  be 
placed  before  them  in  a  novel  and  striking 
light ;  for,  is  not  truth  presented  in  the 
volume  of  Revelation  in  its  most  delight- 
ful and  engaging  dress  7  And  will  not 
the  interesthig  narratives  of  the  Bible 
continue  to  live  and  to  impart  instruction 
w^hen  the  most  popular  writers  of  fiction 
are  altogether  forgotten  1  A  desire  to  di- 
rect the  minds  of  the  inquiring  to  the  vo- 
lume of  truth  was  the  object  of  the  writer 
in  commencing  this  work;  and  if  the  fee- 
ble attempt  he  has  made  to-  illustrate 
and  improve  some  of  the  facts  of  the  in- 
spired records  should  induce  abler  persons 
to  pursue  the  path  he  has  marked  out,  he 
will  cordially  rejoice. 

Ulackhealh  Road,  Greenwich. 


^}.     tn  rr  'n  A  t   n 
^A    .i  L\  ^At  vJ  A.I  o 


CONTENTS  . 


PAGE. 


The  Solemn  Inquiry      ------  7 

The  First  Muider 15 

The  Deluge S5 

The  Servant  Expelled 31 

The  Affectionate  Father  sacrificing  his  Son   -        -  50 

The  Affecting  Funeral 65 

The  Patriarchal  Wedding     -----  81 

The  Dutiful  Son  -        - 95 

The  Affectionate  Brother       -----  112 

The  Faithful  Steward 131 

The  Pious  Prisoner       ------  143 

The  Righteous  Governor 155 

The  Mistaken  Saint 166 

The  Dying  Patriarch -  174 

The  Foundling -  193 

The  Wise  Choice 203 

The  Blasphemer  Stoned 218 

The  Serpents        - 229 

The  Hypocritical  Prophet     -----  237 

The  Enemy  Discovered        -----  251 

The  Affectionate  Daughter-in-Law       -        -        -  261 

The  Happy  Gleaner 276 


PBII-iejnTn^j  ^,, 


NARRATIVES. 


THE  SOLEMN   INaUIRY. 


GEN.  III. 


Did  not  his  heart  within  him  burn, 

Touched  by  the  solemn  tone  1 

Not  so  !  for,  never  to  return, 

Its  purity  was  gone. 

Mrs.  Hemans. 

The  natural  disposition  of  man  to  inquire  into 

the  past  conduct  of  his  fellow-creatures  has  been 

frequently  the  subject  of  remark.     We  feel  that 

we  are  but  tlie  creatures  of  a  day,  and  standing 

on  the   common  stage  of  life,  we  ask  about  the 

events  which  occurred  before  our  entrance,  look 

around  upon  the  scenes  moving  before  us,  and 

die  while  inquiring  what  shall  be  after  us.     This 

spirit  of  curiosity  may  become  useful  or  injurious 

to  us,  as  we  improve  or  abuse  it.     Kept  within 

due  limits,  it  leads  to  important  discoveries  ;  but 

carried  beyond  those  bounds,  it  draws  away  our 

attention  from  the  most  important  pursuits,  and 

perverts  our  f.\culties  to  the  study  of  momentary 

trifles. 


8  THE    SOLEMN   INQUIRY. 

To  gratify  our  desires  for  useful  and  important 
knowledge,  it  has  pleased  God  to  make  a  large 
portion   of  the  Holy  Tolume  a  relation   of  the 
most  interesting  events  in  which  man  hasbeen 
concerned.     We  thus  learn  much  of  the  charac- 
ter and  will  of  Jehovah  ;  we  see  the  evil  nature 
and   awful  effects  of  transgressions  of  his  law  ; 
and  we  learn,  from  facts  presented  to  our  view, 
the  way  of  escape  from  his  anger,  and  the  meth- 
od  of  reconciliation  with  him.  ^The  goodness  of 
God  IS  thus  made  apparent,  both  in  the  revelation 
he  has  been  pleased  to  give  us  of  himself,  and  in 
the  manner  in  which  it  has  been  presented  to  us. 
Turning,  then,  to  this  only  authentic  history 
of  the  human  race  for  many  of  the  first  ages  of 
the  world,   we  inquire  briefly  into  the  history  of 
man,  the  cause  of  his  present  unhappiness,   and 
especially  the  important  connexion  between  him 
and  his  great  Creator. 

We  cannot  go  back  to  the  primeval  state  of  our 
first  parents  without  feelings  of  the  greatest  ad- 
miration and  gratitude.  How  beautiful,  holy, 
and  happy  were  Adam  and  Eve  when  they  first 
came  from  the  hands  of  their  Maker !  AYhat 
striking  illustrations  do  their  persons  furnish  of 
the  power,  the  wisdom,  the  benevolence  of  their 
Creator  !  How  lovely  and  desirable  their  resi- 
dence !  Its  fruits  and  its  flowers  are  alike  delight- 
ful !     All  that  man  can  desire  has  been  placed 


THE    SOLEMN    INGIUIRY.  ^ 

at  his  feet  by  the  Creator  and  Friend  who  has 
constituted  him  the  governor  of  the  whole  earth. 

Nor  were  the  blessino;s  of  a  spiritual  kind  which 
the  Creator  had  bestowed  on  Adam  less  nume- 
rous or  striking.  He  who  had  formed  man  of 
spirit  as  well  as  matter,  imparted  to  that  spirit  a 
sense  of  his  tavour,  and  from  day  to  day  conde- 
scended to  hold  intercourse  with  it.  Delightful 
indeed  must  have  been  the  interviews  between 
the  Father  of  spirits  and  the  souls  he  had  made  ? 
The  holycomraunion  and  interchange  of  though; 
between  kindred  minds  presents  the  nearest  re- 
semblance to  this  friendship  between  heaven  and 
earth  ;  but  even  this  falls  almost  infinitely  short 
of  these  scenes  of  Eden  before  humanity  became 
stained  with  sin. 

The  reflecting  mind  must  be  impressed  with 
the  fitness  of  the  entire  alieo^iance  of  man  to  his 
Maker.  The  creature  should  adore  his  Creator, 
the  subject  should  obey  his  sovereign,  and  the 
servant  should  promote  the  interests  of  his  mas- 
ter. Hence  it  was  desirable  that  some  test  should 
be  instituted  by  which  the  authority  of  Jehovah 
should  be  manifested,  and  the  dependence  of  man 
should  be  felt.  Adam  could  not  then  sin  against 
society,  for  it  did  not  exist ;  and  thus  the  test 
must  be  one  relating  to  God  himself.  This  test 
is  known  to  be  that  of  abstaining  from  the  fruit 


10  THE    SOLEMN    INQUIRY. 

of  a  certain  tree,  which  was  pointed  out  by  infi- 
nite wisdom.  So  long  as  this  requirement  was 
regarded,  man  would  be  happy  ;  if  it  were  viola- 
ted, he  and  his  posterity  would  be  the  subjects 
of  the  wrath  of  God.  The  fitness  of  this  test 
must  be  readily  seen  :  it  tended  to  cherish  in  the 
minds  of  our  first  parents  a  sense  of  their  depen- 
dence upon  God, — it  would  operate  as  a  check 
to  the  undue  gratification  of  their  animal  appe- 
tites, and  their  natural  curiosity, — it  was  a  rule 
very  easy  to  be  observed,~and  could  not  be  se- 
vere in  itself,  as  it  only  regarded  one  tree,  and 
left  them  the  opportunity  of  gratifying  their  full 
desires  with  the  fruits  of  all  the  rest. 

How  long  our  first  parents  continued  in  an 
obedient  and  happy  state  we  cannot  tell ;  but 
several  circumstances  lead  to  the  conclusion  that 
it  could  be  but  for  a  short  time.  During  this 
period,  however,  all  was  felicity.  The  world 
was  theirs  ;  their  Maker  was  their  friend  ;  the 
past  called  for  their  gratitude  ;  and  the  future 
was  contemplated  with  confidence.  Angels  were 
not  happier,  nor  could  infinite  wisdom  and  love 
contemplate  the  scene  without  pronouncing  "all 
very  good  !" 

But  alas  !  this  felicity  did  not  long  continue. 
We  are  called  to  visit  the  g^arden  of  Eden  under 
circumstances  of  agonizing  sorrow.     The  bright 


THE    SOLEMN    INdUIRY.  11 

[uminary  of  day  is  just  withdrawing  his  glorious 
beams  from  Paradise,  and  setting  in  the  west ; 
when  Jehovah  appears  in  the  garden,  as  usual, 
to  hold  intercourse  with  man,  in  whom  he  has 
so  much  delighted.  But  how  changed  the  scene ! 
Adam,  who  had  been  accustomed,  with  a  heart 
overflowing  with  joy,  to  come  to  meet  his  Father 
and  his  God,  has  now  retired,  as  he  supposes, 
from  the  Divine  view,  and  attempted  to  hide 
himself  among  the  trees.  What  is  the  cause  of 
all  this  ?  Why  should  the  God  of  love  have  to 
propose  the  striking  inquir}?-,  "  Adam,  where  art 
thou  ?"  What,  has  man  begun  to  suppose  his 
Creator  is  his  enemy  7  Has  he  found  a  being 
who  can  make  him  happier  ?  Or  has  he  disco- 
vered that  he  is  most  blessed  when  living  at  a 
distance  from  the  fountain  of  felicity  ?  It  was 
certainly  impossible  that  almighty  wisdom  had 
done  him  wrong,  or  that  infinite  love  had  chang- 
ed in  its  regards  to  him.  The  mind  of  man  must 
contemplate  this  question  with  astonishment  and 
awe ;  and  its  consideration  must  fi.ll  every  well- 
regulated  heart  with  grief. 

The  very  proposal  of  the  question  seems  to 
imply  the  anger  of  Jehovah.  He  had  created 
man,  and  put  him  into  Eden,  where  he  had  sup- 
plied his  wants,  and  given  him  every  proof  of 
his  favour.     And  is  this  the  conduct  which  he 


{2  THE    SOLEMN   IK'ilTIRY, 

ou^ht  to  meet  with  in  return  ?  What  cause  Fins 
God  ^iven,  that  his  creature  should  thus  flee  from 
his  presence? 

Nor  does  the  question  appear  less  adnpted  to 
induce  in  Adam  a  spirit  of  self-examination.  He 
must  well  know  that  the  eye  of  Omniscience  was 
upon  him  ;  and  that  the  inquiry  was  designed 
to  penetrate  his  heart,  and  induce  feelings  to 
which  he  had  hitherto  been  a  stranoer.  The 
blessed  God  employs  powerful  means  to  direct 
our  attention  to  ourselves,  and  to  convince  us 
how  awfully  we  have  sinned  against  him. 

But  in  the  midst  of  all,  we  must  see  that  infi- 
nite benevolence  mingles  itself  with  the  inquiry. 
Jehovah  does  not  appear  in  the  garden  clothed 
in  vengeance  ;  he  does  not  come  to  destroy  man, 
even  though  he  has  sinned  ;  but  he  condescends 
to  inquire,  and  to  reason  with  him  as  to  his  con- 
duct. How  vast  the  love  which  the  Supreme 
Being  is  thus  pleased  to  manifest  to  us  ;  strnnge 
that  we  should  be  disposed  to  hate  and  to  dis- 
obey him ! 

But  we  turn  to  the  culprit,  who  has  been  com- 
pelled, as  every  sinner  shall  be,  to  appear  before 
Iiis  Creator  and  his  Judge.  Nor  can  we  doubt, 
when  we  see  him,  the  cause  which  led  to  his 
withdrawment  from  the  sight  of  God.  We  see 
in  his  countenance  the  power  of  his  conscience. 


THE    SOLEMN    INaUIRY.  13 

We  perceive  his  deep  sense  of  his  guilt,  and  his 
conviction  that  he  deserves  punishment.  Me- 
mory now  forcibly  presents  to  him  the  opposition 
his  conscience  made  to  his  eatins^  the  forbidden 
fruit,  and  the  recollection  fills  him  with  horror. 
Well,  then,  may  he  be  burdened  with  sorrow. 

Still  it  is  a  matter  of  lamentation  that  the  trans- 
gressor manifests  nothing  like  true  repentance 
for  his  sins.  He  has  now  no  real  love  for  God. 
He  fears  his  wrath,  he  denies  not  his  claims  to 
his  obedience,  he  refuses  not  to  answer  his  in- 
quiries ;  but  alas  !  he  does  not  implore  his  par- 
don, he  tacitly  throws  the  blame  of  his  sin  upon 
his  Maker  ;  and  thus  shews  how  rebellion  against 
God  blinds  the  understanding,  hardens  the  affec- 
tions, and  perverts  the  whole  soul. 

But  who  shall  describe  to  us  all  the  emotions 
which  pass  now  through  Adam's  heart !  He  can- 
not hide  himself  from  God  ;  his  sins  are  open  to 
the  Divine  view,  before  whom  he  stands  a  con- 
victed culprit.  He  has  approached  the  forbidden 
tree,  he  indeed  knows  good  and  evil,  but  all  the 
bias  of  his  soul  is  to  the  latter,  and  the  punish- 
ments due  to  sin  are  overtaking  him  in  rapid 
succession.  We  pity  the  unhappy  subject  of 
sorrow,  but  we  feel  that  the  whole  blame  of  his 
condition  rests  on  himself.  We  are  compelled 
to  admit  the  infinite  justice  of  the  Deity  in  his 
2* 


14  THE    SOLEMN    INaUIRY. 

expulsion  from  Paradise,  while  we  adore  the 
mercy  which  permits  him  for  more  than  nme 
hundred  years  to  continue  on  earth. 

And  higher  still  must  our  admiration  rise 
when  we  hear  a  just  God — at  the  same  time  thut 
he  declares  his  displeasure  against  sin  and  pro- 
nounces upon  our  first  parents  the  sentence  of 
death — graciously  promises  redemption  through 
the  mediation  of  his  own  Son,  who  shou  d  die  in 
their  stead,  and  bring  in  an  eternal  salvation  for 
all  who  believe  in  his  name.  Guilty  indeed  ujust 
be  the  man  who,  having  ruined  himself  by  trans- 
gression against  God,  perfects  his  destruction  by 
rejecting  Jesus,  the  refuge  from  the  wrath  to  come. 

The  whole  subject  thus  viewed  should  impress 
our  minds  with  the  nature  of  sin,  as  disobedience 
against  God  ;  we  should  learn  that  all  our  unhap- 
piness  arises  from  departure  from  holiness;  we 
should  feel  the  folly  of  attempting  to  extenuate 
transgressions  against  the  Divine  law,  and  should 
confess  all  our  transgressions  against  him  ;  and 
finally,  seeing  that  Jehovah  has  been  pleased  to 
make  overtures  of  mercy  to  us,  and  has  pnl)lish- 
ed  reconciliation  through  the  death  of  Christ,  we 
should  thankfully  accept  the  blessing,  and  yield 
ourselves  to  his  service. 


THE  FIRST  MURDER. 


GENESIS    IV. 


To  the  broad  earth's  farthest  verge, 

Me  the  Almighty's  curse  has  driven  ; 

My  crime  pursues  me  everywhere, 

And  '  Vengeance  !  vengeance !'  cries  to  Heaven. 

Woe  is  me  !  my  brother's  blood 
Eclioes  through  the  wild  sea-shore; 
It  murmurs  in  the  hollow  b!ast, 
It  thunders  in  the  torrent's  roar. 

Whitehodse. 

To  the  contemplative  mind,  it  must  needs  be  a 
source  of  pleasure  to  survey  the  earth  when  new- 
ly created  by  Almighty  power.  It  was  designed 
by  infinite  wisdori:,  intended  to  ilhistrate  the  di- 
vine benevolence,  and  was  built  for  the  residence 
of  man,  one  of  the  noblest  works  of  Jehovah.  It 
presented  beauty  and  glory  ;  its  completion  was 
celebrated  by  the  songs  of  angels;  and  its  great 
Creator  pronounced  his  work  "all  very  good." 
Man,  in  a  peculiar  and  complete  sense,  was  hap- 


16  THE    FIRST    MURDER. 

py.  The  earth  and  its  diversified  scenery  charm- 
ed his  sicrht;  the  various  sounds  of  its  inhabitants 
were  melody  in  his  ears;  and  its  fruits  were 
pleasant  to  his  palate.  The  companion  whom 
God  had  created  for  him,  was  all  he  could  wish 
her  to  be,  and,  what  was  belter  than  all  this,  he 
was  on  terms  of  friendship  with  his  Maker,  and 
held  constant  communion  with  him. 

But,  alas  !  while  we  indulge  ourselves  in  the 
contemplation  of  this  delightful  scenery,  we  are 
reminded  of  the  av/ful  change  that  has  taken 
place.  Man  has  offended  God  by  rebelling 
against  his  laws  ;  and,  now  the  divine  favour  is 
withheld,  angels  look  at  us  with  pity,  and  devils 
with  triumph  ;  the  earth  is  cursed  for  the  sin  of 
man,  while  its  various  inhabitants  rise  up  in  op- 
position to  him,  and  man  himself  is  awfully  de- 
graded, the  energies  of  his  mind  are  contracted, 
and  his  prospects  of  future  glory  are  obscured. 
Unless  a  Mediator  is  found,  to  reconcile  him  to 
God,  he  must  perish  without  hope  ;  and  except 
his  soul  undergoes  a  new  creation,  he  cannot 
dwell  in  the  future  paradise  of  bliss. 

The  awful  consequences  of  the  fall  of  Adam 
were  soon  seen  in  the  barrenness  of  the  earth, 
the  wildness  of  the  brute  creation,  and  the  T^ad 
passions,  the  diseased  bodies,  and  the  dying  frames 
of  the  human  race.     The  first-born  of  our  pa- 


THE    FIRST    MURDER,  17 

rents  is  introduced  to  our  notice  as  a  sinner  and 
a  nmrderer.  Let  us  enter  on  the  short  and  affect- 
ing history,  and  be  concerned  to  derive  improve- 
ment from  it. 

Il  is  perfectly  natural,  when  parents  are  blest 
wilh  children,  to  entertain  the  highest  hopes  of 
their  future  excellence  and  happiness.  When 
our  first  parents  had  sinned,  Jehovah  graciously 
promised  a  deliverer  ;  and  when  her  first-born 
entered  the  world,  Eve  imagined  that  he  was  the 
promised  Messiah.  It  shewed  her  faith  in  the 
promise  of  God  :  but  she  did  not  then  know  that, 
before  the  Saviour  appeared,  it  v/as  necessary 
that  the  awful  nature  of  sin  should  be  made  fully 
evident,  and  that  the  providential  arrangements 
of  Jehovah  would  take  four  thousand  years  to 
accomplish  his  designs,  and  bring  "the  fulness 
of  time"  for  the  appearance  of  Christ.  She  could 
not  suppose  that  her  beloved  child  had  brought 
into  the  world  a  depraved  heart,  which  would 
lead  him  to  rebel  against  God,  distress  his  parents, 
and  murder  his  brother.  Well  might  the  wise 
man  check  inordinate  joy  at  the  birth  of  a  child, 
and  ask — "  Who  knoweth  whether  he  will  be  a 
v/ise  man  or  a  fool  ?" 

There  can  be  little  doubt  but  that  Cain  and  his 
brother  Abel  were  both  instructed  in  the  know* 
ledge  of  God,  so  far  as  their  parents  themselves 


18 


THE    FIRST    MURDER. 


knew  him.  But,  valuable  as  is  a  reliorions  edu- 
cation, and  powerful  as  are  its  restraints,  it  does 
not  always  preserve  iis  possessors  from  the  most 
awful  crimes.  Depravity  is  deep-rooted  and  in- 
veterate ;  and  when  all  may  appear  amiable  and 
promising  without,  dispositions  of  the  most  sinful 
nature  may  be  ranlding  within  the  heart,  Cain 
presented  an  offering  to  the  Lord.  He  did  not 
slight  the  forms  of  religion  ;  but,  alas  !  that  offer- 
ing was  not  composed  of  (he  proper  materials, 
nor  was  it  accompanied  with  suitable  feelings. 
Hence,  while  the  offering  of  Abel,  of  the  firstUngs 
of  his  flock,  presented  in  humble  expectation  of, 
and  dependence  on,  the  promised  Messiah,  was 
accepted,  the  sacrifice  of  Cain  was  rejected  by 
that  jealous  Being,  who  not  only  requires  us  to 
pay  him  homage,  but  expects  it  to  be  done  in  the 
way  of  his  own  appointment. 

Persecution,  or  opposition,  to  those  who  serve 
God  in  an  acceptable  manner,  seems  inherent  in 
the  human  heart.  As  men,  since  the  fall,  are 
naturally  haters  of  their  Creator,  they  must  dis- 
like those  who  enjoy  his  favour,  and  are  con- 
cerned for  his  honour.  When  the  fire  from  hea- 
ven descended,  and  shewed  the  divine  accept- 
ance of  Abel's  offering,  and  the  same  token  was 
withheld  from  Cain,  it  called  into  exercise  all  his 
stiong  feelings  of  jealousy  and  hatred  towards 


THE    FIRST    MURDER,  19 

his  brother.  The  affection  he  owed  him  by  na* 
ture  seemed  to  have  fled,  and  revenge,  however 
unreasonable,  to  have  taken  its  place  ;  and  as  he 
could  not  shew  his  opposition  to  God  in  any 
other  way  than  injuring  his  brother,  he  selected 
the  most  hateful  methods  in  which  to  manifest 
the  malice  that  reigned  in  his  bosom. 

It  has  often  been  remarked,  that  religious  dis- 
putes rise  higher  than  any  other  ;  and  we  see  it 
exemplified  here.  True,  Abel  has  imbibed 
much  of  the  spirit  of  that  world  to  which  he  is 
rapidly  hasting,  and  he  shews  the  meekness  and 
the  affection  which  adorn  the  saintly  character  ; 
but  this  spn'it  increases  the  rage  of  Cain,  who 
is  only  influenced  by  Satan.  His  anger  knows 
no  bounds,  and  he  is  careless  as  to  the  conse- 
quences of  shewing  that  disposition.  Wearing 
the  mask  of  friendship,  he  invites  Abel  to  the 
field,  where  they  had  probably  often  held  bro- 
therly intercourse ;  and  there,  his  smothered 
rage  bursting  forth,  and  strengthened  by  its  ap- 
parent suspension,  he  deprives  him  of  his  life. 

What  a  series  of  reflections  rush  into  our 
minds  as  we  contemplate  this  awful  fact !  Per* 
haps  death  had  never  before  entered  our  world ; 
and  how  affecting  the  thought,  that  the  first  de- 
parture of  a  human  being  from  our  earth  was 
occasioned  by  a  murder,  and  that  murder  the  re- 


20  THE    FIRST    MURDER. 

suit  of  eminent  piety  in  the  person  of  its  sub- 
ject !  What  must  have  been  the  feehn2:s  of  our 
first  parents,  as  they  looked  upon  the  remains  of 
their  beloved  son  !  Well  might  they  call  him 
Abel,  and  mourn;  well  might  ihey  say  that 
"  man,  at  his  best  estate,  is  vanity.^'' 

On  the  supposition  that  Abel  was  the  first 
who  entered  the  realms  of  felicity  from  our 
world,  we  cannot  but  imagine  that  feelings  of 
delight  would  fill  the  breasts  of  each  of  the  an- 
gels on  his  account ;  while  they  would,  if  indeed 
it  were  possible,  feel  a  momentary  horror  at  the 
means  by  which  he  was  dismissed  from  earth. 
But  his  sufferings  are  now  over,  and  he  Fhall 
for  ever  enjoy  an  infinite  reward  for  his  attach- 
ment to  ihe  service  of  God;  angels  hail  him  as 
delivered  from  the  sufferings  and  persecutions  of 
a  sinful  world,  and  as  being  their  companion 
for  ever ;  and  Jesus  must  view  him  with  holy 
delight,  as  being  the  first  fruits  of  that  harvest  of 
immortal  souls  given  him  as  the  reward  of  the 
sufferings  he  had  engaged  to  endure. 

But  what  are  the  feelings  of  the  wicked  fratri- 
cide? Who  can  describe  the  agonies  of  his 
conscience,  or  represent  the  horrors  of  which  he 
is  the  subject?  The  scene  is  viewed  with  an 
awful  interest  by  the  Supreme  Governor  of  the 
Universe  ;  and  it  is  not  long  before  he  calls  the 


THE    FIRST    MURDER.  21 

sinner  to  account  for  his  crimes.  Cain  acts  the 
hypocrite  even  before  his  Maker,  denies  a  know- 
ledge of  Abel,  and  impudently  asks — "Am  I  my 
brother's  keeper?"  We  are  shocked  at  such 
conduct  on  his  part  ;  but  do  we  never  exemplify 
his  spirit?  Do  we  never  profess  that  before 
God  which  we  never  felt?  Do  not  we  willing- 
ly remain  ignorant  of  misery  which  we  could 
readily  relieve?  Do  not  we  sometimes  cherish 
the  spirit  of  Cain  towards  perishing  sinners,  and 
make  but  little  exertion  for  their  salvation? 
And  will  not  God  surely  visit  us  for  these 
things  ? 

The  despair  of  Cain,  when  he  was  sentenced 
by  Jehovah  as  accursed,  and  to  be  a  vagabond 
in  the  earth,  was  indescribably  awful.  The 
Supreme  Governor,  by  some  mark,  distinguish- 
ed him  from  all  other  men,  and  threatened  the 
most  tremendous  punishment  to  him  who  should 
take  away  his  life.  Thus  did  he  long  continue 
him  in  the  world,  shewing  men  the  dreadful 
consequences  of  transgression,  by  his  suffering 
the  vengeance  of  divine  wrath.  What  distin- 
guishing mark  he  bore,  we  cannot  say  :  perhaps 
it  was,  as  Saurin  suggests,  a  garment  different 
from  those  worn  by  others  ;  possibly  it  was  some 
mark  on  his  forehead,  as  some  have  thought ; 
or  might  it  not  have  been  the  agony  of  despair 
3 


22  THE    FIRST    MURDER. 

depicted  in  his  countenance  ?  His  feelings 
must  be  most  acutely  harassed,  or  he  would  not 
have  exclaimed,  "  My  punishment  is  greater 
than  I  can  bear !"  • 

The  question  has  been  asked,  "Who  could 
take  vengeance  on  Cain  for  the  death  of  Abel, 
when  we  read  not  of  his  having  any  other  rela- 
tives, his  father  and  mother  excepted?"  A  mo- 
ment's consideration  must  convince  the  inquirer, 
that,  though  Moses  has  not  mentioned  the  fact, 
(here  must  have  been  many  inhabitants  on  the 
globe  besides  them.  A  very  learned  writer,  refer- 
red to  by  Saurifi,  supposes  the  melancholy  event 
to  have  occurred  in  the  year  of  the  world  128  ; 
and  shews,  that  by  that  time,  there  might  have 
descended  from  our  first  parents  not  less  than 
421,164  persons.  Among  such  a  number,  Cain 
might  well  imagine  there  were  many  who 
would  be  disposed  to  revenge  the  death  of  such 
a  man  as  "  righteous  Abel." 

We  will  not  attempt  to  describe  the  misery 
which  Cain  felt  through  the  remaining  part  of 
his  life.  He  travelled  from  place  to  place ; 
then  attempted  to  drive  the  load  from  his 
mind  by  engaginof  in  the  building  of  a  city,  and 
employing  himself  in  business:  but  all  was  in 
vam.  He  endured  a  life  of  misery,  and  is  ex- 
hibited as  an  object  of  infamy  to  the  end  of  time. 


THE    FIRST    MURDER.  23 

"  His  life  is  an  oppressive  load, 
That  hangs  upon  him  like  a  curse  ; 
For  all  the  pleasure — thoughts  that  glowed, 
Are  now  extinguished  by  remorse  ! 
And  death  !  oh,  death  !  'tis  worse  !  'tis  worse ', 
How  dreadful  in  the  grave  to  lie, 
Yet  sleep  not ! — evermore  to  nurse 
The  worm  that  will  not,  cannot  die  !" 

Let  it  ever  be  the  concern  of  each  of  my  read- 
ers anxiously  to  guard  ao^ainst  those  risings  of 
an«^er  which  are  displeasing  to  God,  and  which 
lay  the  foundation  of  unliappiness  to  ourselves 
and  others; — let  us  learn  the  impossibility  of 
concealing  sin  from  the  eye  of  O.uniscience ; 
and  may  the  consideration  that  all  our  actions 
and  thoughts  are  open  to  his  view,  preserve  us 
from  transgressing  his  law ; — let  us  reflect  on 
Abel  as  a  type  of  the  holy  Jesus,  who  manifested 
the  spirit  of  love  and  of  meekness  when  murder- 
ed by  his  enemies; — let  us  see  that  sin  will  be- 
followed  by  the  reproaches  of  conscience,  the 
faithful  witness  for  God  in  every  human 
breast ; — and  may  we  ever  recollect  that  Jehovah 
will  avenge  himselfon  every  transgressor.  The 
day  of  punishment  may  be  long  deferred,  but  a 
period  will  come  when  we  shall  receive  the  re- 
ward of  our  doings  before  an  assembled  universe. 
The  last  great  day  will  bring  to  light  many 
transactions  tnat  have  been  hitherto  concealed 


24  THE    FIRST    MURDER. 

from  human  view,  but  which  the  Judge  of  all 
will  fully  disclose.  *'  For  there  is  nothing  hid 
that  shall  not  then  be  revealed," 


THE    DELUGE. 

GENESIS  VI,  VII.  VIII. 

Behold  the  wrathful  Deity  enthron'd 

In  darkness  awful,  inaccessible, 

And  order  almost  into  chaos  changed  ; 

Tremendous  gloom  !  that  blots  the  sun's  bright  beams, 

And  more  than  midnight's  horrors  shroud  the  skies  ! 

The  faint  grey  twilight  gleaming  through  the  clouds, 

Discover,  floating  on  a  shoreless  sea, 

The  chosen  eight  embosom'd  in  the  ark, 

One  family  preserv'd  to  renovate 

The  world  Jehovah's  judgments  have  destroyed. 

S.  Hughes. 

Very  few  historical  events  are  adapted  to  make 
so  deep  and  abiding  an  impression  on  the  mind 
as  that  recorded  by  Moses,  in  tlie  book  of  Gene- 
sis, which  is  usnally  spoken  of  as  the  delvge. 
It  is  one  of  the  facts  which  infidelity  has  never 
been  able  to  account  for.  All  nations,  in  some 
form  or  other,  have  preserved  memorials  of  such 
an  event  ;  constant  discoveries  of  a  geological 
kind  are  giving  us  new  proofs  of  the  fact  ;  and 
we  may  ask  the  man  who  rejects  tlie  Bible  to  tell 
us  when  this  event  occurred,  why  it  tooic  place, 
and  what  were  its  designs,  but  he  will  be  u»able 
3* 


26  THE    DELUGE. 

to  give  us  a  reply.  We  do  not  intend  to  examine 
this  subject  very  critically,  but  are  desirous  to 
present  to  our  readers  a  few  of  the  leading  facts 
connected  with  the  event,  and  to  suggest  some 
of  the  lessons  arising  out  of  it. 

We  learn,  then,  that  from  the  period  of  man's 
first  apostacy  from  God,  the  depravity  of  his  heart 
was  manifested  in  the  whole  tenor  of  his  conduct. 
As  the  human  family  increased,  the  energies  of 
its  different  members  were  devoted  to  sin,  and  the 
whole  earth  became  full  of  moral  pollution.  Cen- 
tury after  century  rolled  along,  and  men  "  waxed 
worse  and  worse."  The  justice  of  Jehovah  was 
roused,  and  infinite  purity  threatened  the  exer- 
cise of  Omnipotence  in  the  destruction  of  his 
enemies.  Noah,  an  eminent  servantof  God,  was 
instructed  to  declare  the  Divine  determination  to 
punish  men  for  their  sins  by  drowning  the  world, 
to  exhort  them  to  repentance,  and  to  testify  his 
own  faith  in  the  message  he  delivered  by  con- 
structing an  ark,  or  floating  house,  in  which  the 
Supreme  Being  graciously  promised  to  preserve 
him  and  his  family. 

Noah,  believing  God,  was  found  obedient  to 
his  commands.  The  ark  was  begun,  and  the 
design  completed,  in  all  probability,  amidst  the 
contempt  and  the  opposition  of  his  ungodly  neigh- 
bours.     The   liatred  of  the  world  has  always 


THE    DELUGE.  27 

been,  and  always  must  be,  the  lot  of  the  pious  ; 
but  he  who  receives  as  infallibly  true  the  testi- 
mony of  heaven,  will  only  be  influenced  by  a 
sense  of  his  duty.  Noah  was  unmoved  hy  the 
opposition  of  man,  and  actively  engaged  in  the 
duty  to  which  God  called  him.  How  happy 
must  be  the  created  being  who  feels  that  he  is 
doing  what  his  Creator  commands  !  He  may 
bid  defiance  to  the  opposition  of  earth  and  of  ht;l]. 
Infidels  have  attempted  to  laugh  at  the  size  of 
the  ark,  and  to  represent  the  impossibility  of  its 
containing  the  multitude  of  creatures  who  were 
commanded  to  be  contained  in  it.  But  it  would 
be  well  for  such  persons  fairly  to  calculate,  be- 
fore they  reject  statements  which  millions  of  the 
wisest  and  best  of  the  human  race  have  believed. 
We  will  take  the  very  lowest  computation,  and 
reckon  the  cubit  at  only  eighteen  inches,  thouo-h 
strong  arguments  might  be  adduced  in  proof  of 
its  being  twenty-one.  But  reckoning-  it  at  eigh- 
teen, the  ark  was  four  hundred  and  fifty  feet  long, 
seventy-five  wide,  and  forty-five  high,  nearly 
half  the  size  of  St.  Paul's  Cathedral,  in  London. 
It  was  divided  into  three  stories,  independent, 
probably,  of  the  hold  below,  and  would  contain, 
as  shewn  by  Dr.  Hales,  42,413  tons  burthen,  be- 
ing about  the  size  of  eighteen  of  the  larsfest  ships 
now  in  use,  and  capable  of  carrying  20,0U0  men, 


28  THE    DELUGE. 

with  provisions  for  six  months,  besides  the  weight 
of  one  thousand  eight  hundred  cannons  and  all 
requisite  military  stores.  Who,  then,  can  doubt 
its  capabihty  of  containing  eight  persons,  two 
hundred  and  fifty-pair  of  four  footed  animals,  (for 
to  this  number,  according  to  Buffon,  all  the  va- 
rious species  may  be  reduced,)  and  what  fowls, 
insects,  and  reptiles  could  not  live  in  the  water, 
with  provisions  for  twelve  months  ? 

The  ark  was  built,  the  scoffers  laughed,  but 
God  was  serious.  In  the  sixth  hundredth  year  of 
Noah's  age,  on  the  seventeenth  day  of  the  second 
month,  answerins:  to  November  17,  in  the  year 
of  the  world  165(i,  and  before  the  incarnation  of 
the  Mjssiah  2348  years,  he  entered  that  abode, 
with  his  wife  and  family,  and  the  beasts  he  had 
been  commanded  to  preserve.  And  now,  amidst 
the  tliunders  and  the  lightnings  of  heaven,  the 
fountains  of  the  deep  were  broken  up,  the  clouds 
poured  down  their  torrents,  nay,  every  part  of 
creation  threw  its  moisture  to  the  surface  of  the 
earth,  and  the  water  continued  to  increase  in 
height  for  about  six  weeks,  till  it  covered  the  tops 
of  the  highest  mountains.  O  what  consternation, 
what  agonies,  what  terrors  would  now  be  felt 
among  those  who  had  rejected  the  word  of  Jeho- 
vah !  Very  long  was  the  forbearance  of  the 
Governor  ot  the  universe  exercised,  but  his  wrath 


THE    DELUGE, 


29 


fell  unspeakably  heavy  at  last.  How  clearly 
would  it  now  be  seen  that,  "  though  hand  join  in 
hand,  the  wicked  shall  not  be  unpunished  !" 
Men  may  be  found,  from  year  to  year,  rebelling 
against  God,  but  what  are  they  when  his  anofer 
rises  as^ainst  them  ?  Many  of  those  who  had  as- 
sisted Noah  to  build  the  ark  were  now  destroyed. 
Millions  would  ask  for  mercy  when  it  was  too 
late.  Oh,  sinner,  remember  that  God  will  assur- 
edly visit  thee,  and  that  thou  must  render  to  him 
an  account  of  thy  opposition  to  his  government. 
Awful,  indeed,  must  have  been  the  destruction  of 
the  whole  world,  when  it  was  far  more  populous 
than  at  present ;  aid  still  more  terrible  will  be 
the  period  when  the  Lord  shall  summon  the 
whole  human  race  to  his  bar,  drive  his  enemies 
from  his  gracious  presence,  and  burn  up  the 
earth  with  fire. 

But  amidst  the  mighty  and  awful  ravages  of 
human  life,  arid  of  worldly  beauty  which  passed 
around  him,  Noah,  with  his  family,  was  safe- 
He  who  had  disposed  him  to  render  obedience  to 
his  commands,  had  carefully  shut  him  in  the 
ark,  steered  it  amidst  the  contending  elements  of 
nature,  and,  after  a  residence  of  more  than  a  year 
within  it,  placed  him  again  on  dry  ground,  and 
constituted  him  the  deputy  governor  of  earth. 
They  are  well  kept  who  are  guarded  by  Jeho- 


30 


THE    DELUGE. 


vah  ;  and  they  are  highly  honoured  who  honour 
Him. 

DeHvered  from  the  deluge,  which  had  phmged 
the  whole  world,  excepting  themselves,  into  ruin, 
the  holy  patriarch  presents  unto  God  the  first 
burnt-offering  of  which  we  read,  desiofned  as  an 
atonement  in  behalf  of  the  remnant  that  was  left, 
and  "  for  the  making  of  a  covenant  with  the 
Lord!"  They  who  are  preserved  in  a  season  of 
peculiar  calamity,  should  consider  themselves 
bound  to  be  entirely  God's. 

This  whole  subject  shews  us  that  Jehovah  will 
certainly  punish  the  wicked,  and  save  his  own 
people  ; — it  proves  that  God  blesses  some  persons 
for  the  sake  of  others  ;  as  the  children  of  Noah 
were  saved  for  his  sake,  though  o/«e,  at  least,  was 
not  holy, — so  sinners  are  saved  for  the  sake  of 
Christ.  It  illustrates  the  infinite  importance  of 
seeking  salvation  from  the  wrath  to  come  in  the 
way  of  divine  appointment,  and  of  cleaving  to 
Jesus,  who  was  so  clearly  typified  by  the  ark; — 
it  encourages  us  to  avow  our  faith,  in  the  worst 
of  times,  and  before  the  vilest  sinners;  and  it 
proves  to  us,  that  though  God  may  delay  his  com- 
ing to  judge  the  world,  yet  "  that  day,"  as  m  the 
instance  of  the  flood,  "shall  come  suddenly," 
throwins:  millions  into  awful  confusion,  and  *'as 
a  thief  in  the  night." 


THE  SERVANT  EXPELLED. 

GEN.    XVI.    XXI. 

Ah,  be  not  sad,  aUhoagh  thy  lot  be  cast 
Far  from  the  flock,  and  in  a  boundless  waste! 
No  shepherds'  tents  within  thy  view  appear, 
But  the  chief  Shepherd  even  there  is  near ; 
Thy  tender  sorrows  and  thy  plaintive  strain 
Flow  in  a  foreign  land,  but  not  in  vain  ; 
Thy  tears  all  issue  from  a  source  divine, 
And  every  drop  bespeaks  a  Saviour  thine! 

COWPER, 

In  whatever  view  we  contemplate  the  awfiil 
consequences  of  the  entrance  of  sin  into  our 
world,  we  are  struck  with  astonishment  and  hor- 
ror. Not  only  has  it  thrown  all  nature  into  con- 
fusion, causing  the  ground  to  bring  forth  thorns 
and  briers  and  poisonous  herbs,  and  set  the  brutes 
in  array  against  man,  their  original  governor  j 
but  its  dreadful  effects  have  seized  on  man  him- 
self. Sin  has  banished  him  from  God,  and  de- 
prived him  of  much  of  his  capacity  to  enjoy  hap- 


32  THE   SERVANT    EXl*ELLEO. 

piness  :  it  has  placed  him  in  opposition  to  the 
greater  part  of  his  fel!o\v-creatiires,  and  rendered 
his  happiness  incomplete  wi<h  those  whom  he  yet 
tenderly  loves.  Like  a  mighty  earthquake  it  has 
buried  most  of  his  joys,  and  like  the  simoom  or 
burning  wind,  it  has  blasted  the  rest.  It  has 
mixed  poisons  with  our  pleasures,  and  our  very 
enjoyments  are  made  to  remind  us  that  we  are 
sinners,  and  that  therefore  our  happiness  must  be 
imperfect. 

Probably  few  men,  in  any  age^  have  enjoyed 
more  felicity  in  this  world,  than  Abraham,  '•  the 
Father  of  the  faithful,"  and  "the  Friend  of  God.'' 
It  is  true,  he  had  to  endure  great  trials,  but  they 
were  sweetened  by  the  calm  serenity  of  soul  pro- 
duced by  faith  in  the  Divine  testimony.  In  ad- 
dition to  this,  he  was  blest  with  a  liberal  share 
of  the  bounties  of  Providence,  with  the  honours 
of  his  fellow  men,  and  with  the  society  of  an 
amiable  wife.  But,  alas !  his  enjoyments  were 
imperfect,  and  even  his  domestic  circle  afforded 
him  much  uneasiness.  His  wife  Sarai,  or,  as  she 
was  afterwards  called,  JSarah,  had  a  thousand 
charms ;  she  was  distinguished  for  the  loveliness 
of  her  form,  and  the  beauty  of  her  countenance  ; 
she  appears  to  have  been  a  woman  of  warm  and 
affectionate  feelings,  and  enjoyed  the  highest  re- 
gard of  her  iiusband  ;  but,  alas  !   she  had  no  off- 


THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED.  33 

spring.  Children,  by  the  people  of  that  age, 
were  highly  valued,  because  they  very  essentially 
aided  them  in  their  labours,  and  contributed  to 
their  comfort ;  besides  which,  each  believing  fe- 
male indulged  the  hope  of  being  the  mother  of 
the  promised  Messiah ;  but  they  were  withheld 
from  Sarah.  What  added  to  her  anxiety  on  this 
subject  was,  that  God  had  promised  to  Abraham 
"  that  his  seed  should  be  as  the  dust  of  the  earth, 
so  that  if  a  man  could  number  the  dust  of  the 
earth,  then  should  his  seed  also  be  numbered." 
But  year  after  year  had  passed  along,  and  no  sign 
appeared  of  the  fulfilment  of  his  word  ;  the  con- 
sequence of  which  was,  sorrow  on  the  part  of 
Abraham,  and  still  greater  grief  on  that  of  his 
wife. 

It  is  a  sad  proof  of  the  depravity  of  the  human 
heart,  and  should  deeply  humble  us  in  the  reflec- 
tion, that  we  are  prone  to  disbelieve  the  testimony 
of  God.  Even  Abraham,  eminent  as  he  was  for 
his  faith  in  the  Divine  v/ord,  fell  into  this  crime. 
Indeed,  it  is  remarkable,  that  the  Holy  Spirit  has 
been  careful  to  record  the  failings  of  his  most 
eminent  people,  in  the  very  excellences  for  which 
they  were  conspicuous.  Job,  with  all  his  pa- 
tience, cursed  the  day  of  his  birth,  and  murmured 
against  the  providence  of  God.  Peter,  with  al: 
his  zeal,  denied  his  Master  ;  and  John,  not  wit  h- 
4 


34  THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED. 

Standing  all  his  love,  forsook  him.     And  so  Abra- 
ham, on  more  than  one  occasion,  acting  on  the 
principle  of  unbelief,  sought  to  obtain  good  ob- 
jects by  improper  means.     When  God  had  pro- 
mised him  the  blessing,  the  most  implicit  confi- 
dence ought  to  have  been  placed  in  his  word  ; 
and,  had  he  entertained  proper  views  of  the  Di- 
vine character,  he  had  not  fallen  into  the  sin  of 
distrust.     Ten  years  elapsed,  and  as  both  he  and 
his  wife  were  descending  into  the  vale  of  life, 
and  the  probability   of  having  children  conse- 
quently decreasing,  Sarah  suggested  to  her  hus- 
band that  he  should  go  in  to  her  maid  Hagar, 
by  whom  she  thought  the  promised   children 
might  probably  be  borne.     Ah  !  thou  unbeliever; 
knowest  thou  not  that  though  God  may  delay  in 
the  fulfilment  of  his  promises,  their  accomplish- 
ment is  certain,  even   though  all  may  be  dark, 
and  apparently   opposed   to   their  completion? 
He  never  requires  us,  even  in  the  most  extreme 
cases,  to  have  recourse  to  sinful  actions  to  accom- 
plish his  designs  ;  nor  are  we  justifiable  in  doing 
so ;  and  if  we  depart  from  the  straight  line  of 
rectitude,  we  shall,  in  some  way  or  other,  suffer 
on  account  of  it. 

Hagar  was  an  Egyptian  ;  it  is  supposed  she 
was  one  of  the  maid  servants  whom  Pharaoh 
gave  to  Abraham,  when  he  took  Sarah  into  his 


THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED. 


35 


house.  Gen.  xii.  15,  16.  Such  persons  were 
entirely  under  the  control  of  the  mistress  of  the 
family.  It  was  not  uncommon  for  them  to  be 
raised  to  the  marriage  bed,  and  thus  to  become 
wives  to  their  masters  ;  but  in  this  case  they 
were  reckoned  inferior  to  the  mistress,  who  di- 
rected their  labour,  and  claimed  its  produce,  while 
she  assumed  the  entire  control  of  their  children, 
who,  if  she  had  none  of  her  own,  were  reckoned 
as  hers,  and  became  heirs  to  the  riches  of  the  fa- 
mily. If,  on  the  other  hand,  the  principal  wife 
had  children,  these  descendants  of  the  concu- 
bines were  shut  out  from  all  claim  to  inherit- 
ance. This  was  a  system  which,  however  com- 
mon, was  never  sanctioned  by  the  blessed  God, 
and  though  permitted  in  the  early  ages  of  the 
world,  is  expressly  condemned  in  the  New  Tes- 
tament. 

If  no  other  argument  could  be  adduced  against 
polygamy,  or  plurality  of  wives,  it  would  be 
enough  to  shew  us  its  impropriety,  were  we  to 
consider  the  confusion  introduced  into  the  fami- 
lies where  it  has  been  practised,  and  its  conse- 
quent unhappy  effects  on  general  society.  It 
must  of  necessity  divide  the  affections  of  the 
husband,  create  jealousy  and  ill-will  between  the 
wives,  and  foster  feelings  of  the  most  improper 
kind  among  the  children.  This  was  fully  illus- 
trated in  the  instance  now  before  us.     Sarah 


36  THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED. 

siig-gested  Abraham's  improper  connexion  with 
Hagar  :  the  good  man,  without  seeking  for  Di- 
vine direction,  consulted  his  own  inclinations, 
and  his  wife's  desires,  and  thus  brought  on  him- 
self one  of  the  greatest  trials  with  which  he  ever 
had  to  contend. 

Raised  as  Hagar  now  was  above  her  former 
station,  enjoying  the  love  of  so  great  a  man  as 
Abraham,  and  having  reason  to  think  herself 
more  fruitful  than  her  mistress,  she  soon  began 
to  assume  airs  of  importance,  to  despise  Sarah, 
and,  probably,  to  use  language  and  to  manifest 
conduct  altogether  unbecoming  her  station.  Sa- 
rah now  began  to  see,  in  the  decreasing  regard  of 
her  husband  and  the  insolence  of  her  servant, 
the  folly  of  her  conduct ;  and,  as  though  she  had 
forgotten  that  the  whole  plan  had  originated  with 
herself,  she  throws  the  blame  upon  Abraham. 
'•  My  wrong  be  upon  thee  :  I  have  given  my 
maid  into  thy  bosom;  and  when  she  saw  that 
she  had  conceived,  I  was  despised  in  her  eyes  : 
the  Lord  judge  between  me  and  thee."  There  is 
much  in  this  language  that  we  cannot  approve  ; 
but  Abraham,  seeing  the  ill  effect  of  his  conduct, 
reminds  Sarah  that  Hagar  was  "  in  her  hand  ;" 
intimating  that  he  would  cease  to  treat  her  as  his 
wife,  and  that  she  was  entirely  at  the  disposal  of 
her  mistress.  Though  Abraham  was  rig^ht  in 
acceding  to  the  wishes  of  Sarah  in  leaving  Hagar, 


THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED.  37 

it  by  no  means  shewed  his  wisdom  to  place  her 
so  completely  under  the  government  of  her  mis- 
tress, at  a  time  when  she  was  under  the  influence 
of  improper  feelings,  and  disposed  to  act  towards 
her  in  an  unkind  and  improper  manner. 

In  what  precise  way  Sarah  conducted  herself 
towards  her  servant,  the  sacred  writer  has  not 
told  us,  but  has  merely  remarked,  that  "  she  dealt 
hardly  with  her."  The  Jews  say,  she  beat  her  ; 
it  possibly  was  so,  or  she  might  withhold  from 
her  the  comforts  which  her  situation  required,  or 
have  exacted  from  her  a  larger  portion  of  labour 
than  she  was  able  to  perform.  At  all  events 
poor  Hao^ar  resolved  on  leaving  her  ;  which  she 
did,  and  fled  to  the  wilderness  in  the  way  to 
Shur  ;  intending,  no  doubt,  to  return  to  her  na- 
tive country,  and  report  the  treatment  she  had 
met  with  in  Abraham's  family,  by  which  means 
she  would  probably  have  reproached  the  religion 
of  that  devoted  patriarch. 

How  wonderful  are  the  ways  of  God  !  He 
entertained  designs  towards  Hagar  and  her  un- 
born son,  concerning  which  she  had  no  idea. 
He  had  watched  over  her,  and  directed  her  move- 
ments to  this  wilderness,  from  which  he  will  de- 
liver her,  place  her  again  in  the  family  of  her 
master,  and  make  her  the  mother  of  a  great 
nation  ! 

4* 


38  THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  first  appear- 
ance of  an  angel  as  a  messenger  to  man,  was  on 
the  errand  of  benevolence.  It  is  a  very  delight- 
ful view  that  the  Scriptures  give  us  of  these  be- 
ings, as  "  ministering  spirits,  sent  forth  to  minis- 
ter to  them  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation." 
When  Hagar  was  in  trouble,  and  had  placed 
herself  in  the  wilderness,  by  the  fountain  of 
water,  to  refresh  herself  with  its  cooling  streams, 
"the  angel  of  the  Lord  found  her."  There  is 
something  very  pleasing  in  the  conversation  he 
held  with  her.  He  called  her  by  name,  and  re- 
minded her  of  her  station  as  Sarai's  maid  ;  thus 
intimating  her  duty  to  submit  to  the  woman  un- 
der whom  a  divine  Providence  had  placed  her, 
even  though  she  might  have  treated  her  impro- 
perly. When  she  was  interrogated,  "  Whence 
camest  thou,  and  whither  wilt  thou  go  ?"  she 
displayed  a  very  great  degree  of  candour  and 
good  temper.  She  said,  that  she  was  fleeing  from 
the  face  of  her  mistress,  but  neither  defended 
herself,  nor  exposed  the  improper  conduct  of 
Sarah.  She  appeared  to  be  sensible  of  the  supe- 
rior character  of  the  inquirer,  to  perceive  that  he 
was  acquainted  with  all  her  circumstances,  and 
to  leave  the  whole  afl"air  to  his  direction.  A 
spirit  like  this  is  equally  wise  and  profitable.  We 
ought,  in  all  our  difficulties,  to  "  trust  in  the 
liord  with  all  our  heart,  and  lean  not  to  our  own 


THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED.  39 

understandings."  The  angel  instructed  her  to 
return  to  her  mistress  and  submit  to  her  control, 
promised  that  her  seed  should  be  exceedingly 
multiplied,  that  the  fruit  of  her  womb  should  be 
a  son  whom  she  should  name  Ishmael,  that  is, 
7'he  Lord  heareth^  in  commemoration  of  her  pre- 
sent state  of  affliction  and  deliverance  out  of  it  ; 
and  withal  told  her  the  character  of  her  son,  and 
all  his  descendants,  by  which  he  gave  the  most 
satisfactory  proof  of  his  heavenly  dignity,  which 
indeed  has  been  more  fully  established  by  the 
fulfilment  of  the  prophecy,  that  we  shall  just  now 
see  to  have  been  very  remarkable. 

Hagar  being  thus  encouraged,  and  brought,  it 
is  probable,  to  know  more  of  God  than  she  had 
done,  shews  a  very  proper  feeling  on  the  occasion. 
Having  had  the  privilege  of  living  in  Abraham's 
family,  she  had  heard  of  Jehovah,  and  had  proba- 
bly observed  the  external  forms  of  his  worship  ; 
but  now  that  she  had  seen  his  servant,  and  receiv- 
ed favours  from  his  hands,  it  is  supposed,  by 
some,  that  she  began  to  love  him.  She  acknow- 
ledged his  kindness  to  her  in  her  distress,  and 
gave  the  well  a  name  which  should  make  it  a 
memorial  of  the  Lord's  goodness  to  her.  Having 
done  all  this,  she  returned  to  her  mistress,  whose 
heart  God  inclined  to  receive  her,  and  in  wliose 
house  in  due  time  her  son  was  born.  Abraham, 
in  conformity  to  the  Divine  command  to  Hagar, 


40  THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED. 

named  him  Ishmael.  and  for  several  years  he 
considered  him  as  his  promised  son  and  the  heir 
of  his  property. 

We  cannot  forbear  a'^niring  here  the  goodness 
of  God  to  the  children  of  affliction.     When  we 
are  cast  forth  from  onr  fellow  creatures,  he  has 
pity  upon  us,  provides  for  us,  and  directs  our 
steps.     That  is  a  blessed  affliction  which  brings 
Jehovah  to  our  help,  and  teaches  us  to  love  him. 
Hagar  could  never  forget  his  kindness  to  her,  or 
the  solemn  dedication  she  had  made  of  herself  to 
him.     Nor  is  it  unworthy  of  remark,  that  the 
Divine   conduct   towards   Hagar    probably    led 
Abraham  into  a  mistake.     He  now  supposed  that 
Ishmael  was  the  child  that  God  had  promised 
him  ;  and  he  loved  and  educated  him  according- 
ly.    Little  do  we  know  of  the  future  designs  of 
Heaven  ;  and  as  little  did  Abraham  think  that 
many  years  would  elapse  before  the  promised 
child  would  be  given,  or  that  he  would  be  the 
son  of  his  beloved  Sarah.     Such,  however,  was 
the  assurance  given  him  when  Ishmael  was  about 
four  years  old,  and  such  was  the  fact  when  he 
had  attained  the  age  of  fourteen. 

We  may  suppose,  that  for  a  series  of  years  the 
family  of  Abraham  lived  on  terms  of  general 
peace  ;  but  when  Isaac  was  born,  unpleasant 
feelings  began  to  operate.  As  Sarah  had  former- 
ly disliked  Hagar,  so  she  now  appears  to  have 


THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED.  41 

hated  her,  and  to  have  encouraged  Ishmael  in  his 
opposition  to  Isaac,  who  was  thus  persecuted  from 
a  principle  of  envy.  His  hirth  was  out  of  the 
common  course  of  nature  ;  he  was  given  to  his 
parents  to  enjoy  peculiar  blessings,  and  had  ex- 
pectations superior  to  those  of  Ishmael,  who  by 
this  time  had  become  old  enough  to  know  the 
good  tilings  he  had  lost  by  the  birth  of  his  rival. 
Several  years,  however,  elapsed  before  any  very 
serious  inconvenience  arose  to  the  family  ;  the 
good  sense  of  Abraham  probably  leading  him  to 
act  with  all  the  moderation  he  could  command. 

At  length  Isaac  had  passed  through  the  first 
years  of  infancy,  and  was  about  to  be  weaned. 
Such  times  were  then  seasons  of  rejoicing,  be- 
cause there  was  a  probability  of  the  child's  life 
being  continued, — and  he  began  to  excite  the 
tender  feelings  of  his  parents  by  his  interesting 
prattle.  A  feast  provided  to  commemorate  this 
event  was  not  likely  to  please  either  Hagar  or  her 
son  ;  and  when  the  day  came,  Ishmael  was  found 
"  mocking  "  Isaac.  Perhaps  he  laughed  at  him 
in  derision,  or  imitated  him  in  some  of  his  childish 
actions  to  create  sport  among  the  spectators,  or, 
as  some  of  the  Jews  think,  possibly  he  beat  him. 
Sarah,  who  on  such  an  occasion  would  be  tena- 
cious of  her  own  honour  and  that  of  her  son, 
saw  what  passed  between  the  children ;  and  be- 


42  THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED. 

inor  aware  that  Ishmael  was  eiicouraofed  i:i  his 
improper  conduct  by  his  mother,  she  desired 
Abraham  to  expel  both  Hagar  and  her  son  from 
the  house,  declaring,  with  much  vehemence, 
that  Ishmael  should  not  be  heir  with  her  belov- 
ed Isaac.  Here,  then,  we  have  a  pretty  full  dis- 
play of  the  evil  of  polygamy,  a  practice  that  had 
injured  the  peace  of  Abraham's  mind,  and  dis- 
turbed the  harmony  of  his  family. 

The  patriarch  had  learnt  by  experience  the 
folly  of  doing  things  of  importance  in  haste.  He 
had  seen  the  wrong  of  taking  Hagar  to  his  bed  ; 
he  had  felt  the  impropriety  of  her  former  expul- 
sion ;  his  affectionate  he.irt  could  not  bear  the 
idea  of  making  them  miserable  outcasts  ;  and  he 
therefore  felt  extreme  reluctance  to  follow  the 
counsel  of  his  wife.  We  may  readily  imagine 
another  reason  for  this, — he  waited  to  know  the 
Divine  will ;  and  when  he  had  ascertained  that, 
he  was  equally  ready  to  expel  one  son  and  to 
sacrifice  the  other.  When  God  told  him  to  at- 
tend to  the  suggestions  of  his  wife,  and  send  out 
Hagar  and  her  son,  "  he  rose  up  early  in  the 
mornino:,"  intimatinsf  his  entire  readiness  to  do  as 
he  was  commanded. 

It  may  appear  at  first  view  an  act  of  cruelty  on 
the  part  of  Abraham,  thus  to  treat  those  who  de- 
manded his  affection.     But  let  it  be  remembered, 


THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED.  43 

he  acted  not  from  the  impulse  of  feeling,  but  by 
the  express  direction  of  Jehovah,  who,  while  he 
enjoined  his  servant  to  expel  Hacrar  and  her  son, 
promised  to  make  of  Ishmael  a  great  nation,  be- 
cause he  was  his  seed.  By  their  conduct  too, 
they  had  merited  this  punishment  ;  they  had 
persecuted  Isaac  ;  their  treatment  of  him  arose 
from  unholy  feelings,  which  God  determined  to 
chastise  ;  added  to  which,  their  expulsion  was 
done  in  the  kindest  way  the  act  would  admit  of ; 
provisions  being  given  them  for  their  present 
support,  and  arrangements  probably  made  for 
their  future  supply.  Hagar,  it  is  certain,  felt  no 
resentment  ;  and  if  we  may  judge  from  what 
passed  between  Abraham  and  Ishmael  in  after- 
times,  we  should  suppose  that  he  had  none. 

How  affecting  the  situation  of  Hagar,  now  she 
was  banished  from  the  house  of  her  master  ! 
Seventeen  or  eighteen  years  before,  she  had  been 
a  voluntary  exile  ;  but  now  she  was  "  forced 
from  home  and  all  its  pleasures."  She  resolved 
to  go  with  her  son  to  her  native  land  ;  but  she 
soon  lost  herself  in  the  wilderness  of  Beersheba, 
and  was  brought  into  circumstances  which  at- 
tract  the  strongest  sympathies  of  our  hearts.  The 
bottle  of  water  which  they  had  carried  out  with 
them  was  soon  emptied,  and  they  were  "in  a  dry 
and  thirsty  land,"  where  no  more  was  to  be  rea- 


44  THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED. 

dily  found.  Ishmael's  strength  was  quite  ex- 
hausted, and  his  mother  expected  nothing  but  his 
speedy  death.  She  had  not  courage  to  see  him 
die  ;  his  groans  pierced  her  heart,  and  she  fear- 
ed that  her  tears  would  add  to  his  sufferings. 
Laying  him  "  under  one  of  the  shrubs,"  to  screen 
him  as  much  as  she  could  Irom  the  rays  of  the 
sun,  she  went  to  a  little  distance  from  him  ;  and 
who  can  tell  their  mutual  feelings?  The  mother 
would  think  perhaps  of  the  fountain  at  which 
she  sat  when  the  angel  of  God  appeared  to  her  on 
a  former  occasion,  and  would  tremble  both  for 
her  own  safety  and  that  of  her  son,  who  was  then 
dying  for  the  want  of  a  little  water,  and  withal 
exposed  to  the  rage  of  wild  beasts.  Both  of  them 
would  learn  the  folly  of  persecuting  those  whom 
the  Lord  loves,  and  we  would  hope  that  they 
cherished  repentance  for  their  past  follies  in  this 
particular.  Under  these  circumstances,  Hagar 
might  be  well  filled  with  despair  :  no  human  be- 
ing was  near  to  administer  to  their  wants  ;  and 
though  it  is  true  that,  on  a  former  occasion,  the 
angel  of  Jehovah  appeared  to  give  her  direction, 
yet  she  would  remember  that  then  she  was 
driven  into  the  wilderness  by  the  unkind ness  of 
her  mistress  :  now  she  is  banished  by  the  com- 
mand of  God  for  her  improper  conduct  ;  she 
does  not  now  seem  to  expect  help,  and,  what  is 


THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED.  45 

worse,  she  does  not  even  appear  to  have  prayed 
for  it.  Let  us  indulge  the  hope,  that  if  the  duty 
was  omitted,  it  arose  from  a  deep  sense  of  her 
impropriety  of  conduct.  This,  though  it  will 
not  excuse  us  in  neglecting  a  throne  of  grace, 
may  lessen  the  criminality  of  one  who  never  en- 
joyed our  privileges.  She  ought,  however,  to 
have  trusted  the  Being  who  had  been  her  helper, 
and  to  have  prayed  to  him  for  needful  favours  for 
herself  and  her  son. 

It  is  a  fine  description  which  is  given  us  of  the 
omnipresence  and  benevolence  of  the  Deity  in 
the  hundred  and  second  Psalm.  "  He  hath 
looked  down  from  the  height  of  his  sanctuary  ; 
from  heaven  did  the  Lord  behold  the  earth  ;  to 
hear  the  groaning  of  the  prisoner,  to  loose  those 
that  are  appointed  to  death  ;"  and  never  was  it 
more  fully  realized,  than  in  the  case  of  Hagar 
and  Ishmael.  "  The  water  was  spent,"  and  the 
lad  was  dying.  God  saw  him,  heard  the  lan- 
guage of  his  groans,  and  sent  down  an  angel  to 
deliver  him.  It  was  just  when  Abraham  was 
about  to  slay  his  son,  that  Jehovah  addressed  him 
and  stayed  his  hand  ;  it  was  when  the  brook 
Cherith  was  dry,  the  Divine  Being  appeared  for 
the  prophet :  the  last  night  that  Peter  was  to 
have  lived,  he  was  delivered  by  an  angel.  And 
so  in  this  instance  ;  when  Ishmael  was  just 
5 


46 


THE    SERVANT   EXPELLED. 


ready  to  die,  the  angel  of  (he  Lord  once  more 
spoke  to  Hagar,  to  inquire  into  her  distress,  to 
encourage  her  heart  by  telling  her  that  God  re- 
garded her  son,  who  should  live,  and  become  a 
great  nation  ;  and  opening  her  eyes,  she  was 
directed  to  a  well  of  water,  where  she  filled  her 
bottle,  and  gave  Ishmael  to  drink. 

"  Joyful  she  rose,  and  on  her  list'ning  ear 

Broke  the  sweet  sound  of  water  murm'ring  near  ; 
She  fill'd  her  thirsty  cruise,  and  to  the  boy 
Brought  the  cool  bev'rage  with  a  mother's  joy.'* 

Through  the  Divine  blessino:,  Ishmael  recov- 
ered, and  settled  in  the  wilderness  of  Paran, 
where,  by  the  use  of  the  bow,  he  obtained  a  liv- 
ing for  himself  and  his  mother,  who,  in  due  time 
selected  for  him  a  wife  from  the  land  of  Egypt, 
the  place  of  her  own  birth. 

There  are  several  subjects  connected  with  this 
narrative  of  too  much  importance  to  be  passed 
over.  It  supplies  us  with  a  most  important  and 
luminous  display  of  the  truth  of  scriptural  pro- 
])hecy.  It  was  said  to  Hngar  by  the  angel, 
speaking  of  Ishmael,  "He  will  be  a  wild  man  ; 
his  hand  will  be  against  every  man,  and  every 
man's  hand  against  him  :  and  he  shall  dwell  in 
the  presence  of  all  his  brethren."  This  prophecy 
not  only  related  to  Ishmael,  but  to  all  his  posteri- 
ty.    Mr.  Jones  has  well  observed  in  his  Biblical 


THE    SERVANT    EXPELLED.  4T 

VyclopcBdia^  article  Hagar,  "  It  is  remarkable 
that  the  Saracens,  who  v/ere  of  the  posterity  of 
Ishmael,  never  set  their  hands  to  the  plough,  but 
got  their  living  almost  entirely  by  the  bow;  sup- 
porting themselves  on  wild  flesh  and  venison, 
and  on  such  wild  fowl  as  the  desert  affords,  with 
herbs  and  milk."  The  same  writer,  on  the  arti- 
cle IsHMARL,  as  well  as  Bishop  Newton^  in  his 
second  Dissertation  on  the  Prophecies,  shews 
very  clearly  how  the  different  parts  of  the  pro- 
phecy relating  to  Ishmael  have  been  accomplish- 
ed, even  to  the  present  hour  ;  and  that  it  has 
ever  remained  impossible  either  to  civilize  or 
subdue  the  Arabs,  the  descendants  of  Ishmael. 
Though  the  influence  and  the  armies  of  mighty 
nations  and  conquerors  have  been  exerted  upon 
them,  they  remain  the  same  people,  "  and  still 
preserve  unimpaired  a  most  exact  resemblance  to 
tlie  first  descendants  of  Ishmael."  Thus,  like  the 
Jews,  they  stand  as  living  witnesses  of  the  truth 
of  Divine  revelation. 

Another  circumstance  that  we  must  not  omit 
to  notice  is,  the  use  that  Paul  makes  of  the  sub- 
ject we  have  been  considering,  in  his  epistle  to 
the  Galatians  ;  where  he  speaks  of  the  facts  con- 
nected with  Hagar  and  Ishmael,  and  with  Sarah 
and  Isaac,  as  an  at-legory.  As  the  descend- 
ants of  Hagar  resided  in  Arabia,  so  they  symbol- 


48 


THE    SERVANT    EXPELLEDf. 


ized  the  covenant  of  Mount  Sinai  in  that  coun- 
try. It  was  an  economy  that  placed  the  Jews 
under  bondage.  The  very  reading  of  it  inspires 
us  with  an  idea  of  slavery,  condemnation,  and 
terror,  while  it  excludes  all  who  violate  its  con- 
ditions from  the  heavenly  world.  As  Ishmael 
persecuted  Isaac,  so  the  adherents  to  this  cove- 
nant persecute  those  who  are  interested  in  the  dis- 
pensation of  grace.  On  the  other  hand,  Sarah 
appears  as  the  free-woman,  and  the  mother  of  all 
believers ;  as  Isaac  was  born  by  supernatural 
means,  so  believers  are  born  by  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Spirit  ;  as  he  was  the  child  of  promise,  so 
are  believers  included  among  the  many  nations 
of  which  Abraham  was  the  fother.  This  alle- 
gory is  singular  and  instructive,  but  to  dwell  up- 
on it  would  be  to  wander  from  our  design,  and 
to  occupy  more  room  than  is  consistent  with  our 
plan. 

To  bring  our  remarks  on  this  narrative  to  a 
close,  we  may  observe,  that  it  teaches  us  the  su- 
perintendence of  a  divine  Providence  over  all  our 
affairs,  and  that  nothing  takes  place  among  his 
creatures  but  what  is  overruled  to  accomplish  the 
designs  of  his  glory ; — that  we  can  be  in  no  cir- 
cumstances, nor  in  any  place,  but  we  are  in  the 
sight  of  God,  whose  eye  is  ever  fixed  upon  us. 
This  consideration,  while  it  should  preserve  us 


THE   SERVANT   EXPELLED.  49 

from  sin,  should  comfort  us  in  the  season  of  af- 
fliction. We  see,  farther,  the  evil  consequences 
resultinor  from  an  association  with  the  wicked. 
It  led  Abraham  into  painful  circumstances,  and 
was  the  foundation  of  lasting  sorrow.  And 
finally,  we  learn  that  duties  required  by  the 
moral  Governor  of  the  world  must  be  performed, 
however  painful  their  observance  may  be  to  us. 
If,  indeed,  they  are  hard,  our  sins  make  them  so. 
Had  Abraham  never  improperly  associated  with 
Hagar,  he  had  not  been  called  to  the  painful  task 
of  dismissing  her  from  his  house.  If  the  people 
of  God  break  his  law,  they  must  expect  to  suf- 
fer his  chastisements  ;  and  happy  are  they  if  re- 
stored to  his  fjivour,  however  painful  the  process 
that  is  carried  on  in  their  hearts  to  hnug;  them 
back  to  the  enjoyment  of  his  love  from  whom 
they  have  departed. 


5* 


THE  AFFECTIONATE   FATHER 

SACRIFICING  HIS  SON. 


GEN.    XXII. 


-Mo>t  mysterious  Heaven 


What  hast  thou  said  7  thine  only  son — thine  Isaac, 
A  burnt  oblation  !     And  a  father's  hands 
To  execute  the  deed  ! 

Farrer.' 

The  venerable  patriarch  Abraham  is  immortal- 
ized, in  the  inspired  volume,  as  "  the  Father  of 
the  faithful,"  and  "  the  Friend  of  God."  And 
what  titles  can  be  so  honourable,  or  what  honour 
so  abiding,  as  that  which  cometh  from  heaven  ? 
The  tablets  of  brass  and  of  marble  which  blazon 
forth  the  deeds,  or  mark  the  tombs  of  the  great, 
are  many  of  them  already  crumbled  away  ;  and 
the  places  which  at  present  know  others  shall 
soon  "  know  them  no  more  for  ever."  But 
though  thousands  of  years  have  rolled  on  since 
the  dei^ds  of  Abraham  were  performed  ;  the  nar- 
rative appears  before  us  in  ail  its  native  vigour 
and  beauty.     We  seem  to  accompany  him  in  the 


THE    AFFECTIONATE    FATHER.  51 

most  retired  walks  of  his  life,  and  derive  from 
him  instruction  and  entertainment  of  the  highest 
kind. 

The  existence  and  value  of  the  gifts  and  graces 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  can  only  be  shewn  by  trial, 
This  is  especially  true  of /ai^A.  Hence  the  bless- 
ed God  has  seen  fit  in  all  ages  to  exercise  his 
people  with  the  most  severe  calamities,  "that the 
trial  of  their  faith,  being  much  more  precious 
than  of  gold  that  perisheth,  though  it  be  tried 
with  fire,  might  be  found  unto  praise,  and  honour, 
and  glory,  at  the  appearing  of  Jesus  Christ."  The 
faith  of  Abraham,  whom  Jehovah  had  chosen  as 
his  favourite  and  "  friend,"  was  to  be  handed 
down  to  future  ages,  to  be  admired  and  imitated ; 
it  was  therefore  important  that  its  nature,  propor- 
tion, and  effects  should  be  marked  by  some  great 
transaction. 

The  Supreme  Being  appears  to  have  address- 
ed his  servant  Abraham,  on  this  occasion,  in  an 
audible  manner.  That  voice  had  become  de- 
lightfully familiar  to  him  ;  for  daring  his  journey 
through  life,  of  nearly  one  hundred  and  thirty 
years,  it  had  often  arrested  his  attention,  and  call- 
ed forth  all  the  grateful  emotions  of  his  soul. 
With  what  readiness  of  mind,  and  devotion  of 
heart,  does  he  reply,  "  Behold,  here  I  am."  And 
what  is  the  gracious  communication  which  God 


63  THE    AFFECTIONATE    FATHElt 

has  to  make  to  his  servant  ?  for  we  can  readily 
imajrino  that  the  expectations  of  the  venerable 
patriarch  are  highly  raised.  Alas,  never  did 
such  a  sound  before  enter  his  ear — "Take  now 
thy  son,  thine  only  Isaac,  whom  thou  lovest,  and 
got  thee  into  the  land  of  Moriah,  and  offer  him 
there  for  a  burnt  offerinor,  upon  one  of  the  moun- 
tains which  I  will  tell  thee  of"  What  a  myste- 
rious command  !  How  unusual  a  requirement 
this  from  the  soirrce  of  goodness  and  compassion  ! 
Into  what  a  consternation  must  the  mind  of  the 
saint  be  thrown  !  Perhaps  for  a  moment  he 
doubts  whether  or  not  the  injunction  proceeds 
from  the  God  of  heaven.  But  a  little  reflection 
convinces  him  both  of  the  reality  of  the  com- 
mand, and  of  the  divinity  of  its  Author.  The 
awful  subject  now  becomes  deeply  interesting  ; 
the  command  is  trying  !  The  man  revolts  at 
the  idea  of  slaying  a  lovely  son  ;  but  the  saint 
submits  to  tlie  command  of  the  great  Creator, 
who  says,  ''All  souls  are  mine  ;  as  the  soul  of 
the  father,  so  also  the  soul  of  the  son,  is  mine." 
Heaven  and  hell  watch  the  event  in  suspense  ! 
Unbelief  suggests  disobedience  ;  but  his  faith  is 
strengthened,  and  he  hesitates  not.  Such  a  scene 
as  this  would  never  have  been  disclosed  ;  such 
an  event  would  never  have  been  recorded  in  the 
sacred  volume,  liad  it  not  been  fullof  mstructiou. 


SACRIFICING   HIS   SON.  53 

Let  us,  then,  attempt  our  own  improvement  by 
glancing  at  the  difficulties  of  Abraham's  task — 
the  triumphs  of  his  faith — the  approbation  of  his 
God — and  the  lessons  the  subject  suggests. 

We  think,  then,  on  the  difficulties  of  the  task. 
Self-denial  is  essential  to  the  genuine  religion. 
He  who  has  not  learnt  to  deny  himself,  is  yet 
destitute  of  an  acquaintance  with  vital,  practical 
godliness.  There  are  occasions  when  the  claims 
of  religion  will  come  in  contact  with  our  affec- 
tions and  worldly  interests  ;  when  it  must  be  made 
apparent  whom  we  love  best,  our  Creator  or  our- 
selves. We  are  called  upon,  in  comparison  of 
God,  to  hate  our  nearest  and  dearest  friends. 
Abraham  shewed  that  religion  had  firmly  taken 
up  its  seat  in  his  heart,  when  he  went  out  at  the 
Divine  command,  leaving  his  beloved  friends 
and  his  home,  to  an  unknown  land  :  nor  had  he 
ever  repented  of  this  conduct,  for  he  had  reaped 
an  abundant  reward.  But  he  had  never  before 
met  with  a  trial  like  this  ;  for  he  had  here  to 
struggle  against  the  feelings  of  humanity  :  and, 
in  this  instance  we  meet  with  a  combination  of 
circumstances  eminently  calculated  to  affect  the 
heart.  Who  can  read  the  narrative  without 
tears  1  It  calls  up  all  the  finer  feelings  of  the 
man,  and  especially  harrows  up  the  sensibilities 
of  the  parent.     Isaac  was  the  son  of  his  old  age  ; 


54  TIIM    AFFECTIONATE    FATHER 

promised  m^ny  years  before  his  birth  ;  and  born 
at  a  period  when  all  human  probability  of  his  be- 
ing a  father  had  ceased.  As  his  youngest  child, 
and  the  son  of  his  old  aire,  he  felt  pecuUarly  at- 
tached to  him.  and  the  trial  on  this  account,  too, 
would  be  groat.  He  is  emphatically  spoken  of 
as  his  beloved  son  "  Isaac,  whom  thou  lovest." 
Had  it  been  hluiiael,  the  trial  would  have  been 
severe,  for  even  towards  him  he  had  all  the  ten- 
der feelings  of  a  kind  f;\ther.  But  it  must  be  the 
child  of  his  beloved  Sarah.  God  calls  for  the 
fairest  flower  ;  he  demands  the  darling  son.  It 
must  be  his  most  aflectionate  child ;  for  Isaac 
appears  to  liave  been  an  example  of  obedience. 
He  was  iimocent  of  every  open  crime  ;  he  was 
the  comfort  of  his  holy  parents,  and  evidently  the 
subject  of  ardent  piety,  or  he  would  not  have 
submitted  to  such  a  death  ;  as  at  this  time,  it  is 
evident,  he  was  capable  of  making  resistance,  and 
of  overcoming  his  father.  The  good  old  man 
must  witness  his  own  son  die  an  unnatural  death. 
To  see  the  death  of  an  enemy ^  even  when  he  re- 
poses on  his  own  pillow,  is  affecting ;  but  to  at- 
tend the  deathbed  oiajriend,  and  that  friend  a 
relative^  and  that  relative  a  child — a  son,  cut  off 
ill  the  prime  of  life,  cut  of!'  in  a  way  at  which  hu- 
manity shnddcrs,  this  is  painful  indeed  !  And,  to 
4dd  to  the  trial,  he  must  inflict  this  death  himself. 


SACRIFICING    HIS    SON.  55 

We  are  ready  to  ask,  may  not  this  deed  be  done 
by  some  enemy,  who  has  before  imbrued  his  hands 
in  human  blood,  and  whose  heart  is  steeled  against 
the  cry  of  suffering  ?  May  it  not  be  done  by  some 
of  the  heathen,  who  have  not  so  high  a  sense  of 
parental  duties  as  himself?  Or,  at  least,  may 
not  some  of  his  servants  perform  the  horrid  act  ? 
Who  does  not  wish  to  spare  the  parent  the  deed  ? 
But,  no  !  he  is  commanded,  "  Take  now  thy  son, 
thine  only  son  Isaac,  whom  thou  lovest,  and  offer 
him  for  a  burnt  offering."  Be  it  remembered  too, 
that  it  was  a  most  horrid  kind  of  death.  He  was 
not  to  witness  his  gradual  submission  to  the  pow- 
er of  disease  ;  he  is  not  instructed  to  slay  him  by 
administering  what  should  gently  undermine  his 
constitution,  and  by  degrees  remove  him  to  anoth- 
er world  ;  but  he  was  to  slay  and  "  offer  him  for 
a  burnt  offering."  It  is  indescribably  affecting  to 
hear,  in  a  time  of  general  distress,  a  woman  say-  .  . 

ing  to  her  sovereign — "This  woman  said   untolJZ^A^ 
me,  Give  thy  son,  that  we  may   eat  him  to-day,l  ^  •  ^ 


and  we  will  eat  my  son  to-morrow.  So  we  boil 
ed  my  son,  and  did  eat  him.  And  I  said  unto  her 
on  the  next  day,  Give  thy  son,  that  we  may  eat 
him."  In  that  case,  however,  there  was  a  fa- 
mine, and  we  can  endure  almost  anything  rather 
than  die  by  the  pains  of  hunger ;  but  in  the  case 
before  us,  Isaac  seemed  the  very  blessing  that 


/ 


56  THE    AFFECTIONATE    FATHER 

Abraham  needed,  to  give  value  to  all  his  other 
mercies.  And  to  have  the  task  of  slaying  this 
son  with  a  knife,  and  burning  him  with  fire,  was 
painfully  distressing.  And,  once  more,  to  com- 
plete the  trial,  how  could  he  bear  the  thought  of 
disclosing  it  to  Sarah?  How  would  she  look  at 
him,  when  she  found  him  to  be  the  executioner 
of  the  lovely  youth,  in  whom  all  their  earthly 
happiness  centered  ?  How  could  he  bear  to  wit- 
ness her  tears,  "  refusing  to  be  comforted,  because 
her  Isaac  was  not ;"  to  hear  her  bitter  reflections 
upon  hiin,  for  what  she  would  consider  his  cru- 
elty towards  him  ?  His  case  was  trying  indeed  ! 
But  Abraham  had  an  enemy  to  contend  with, 
stronger  than  nature  itself :  he  had  to  overcome 
all  the  suggestions  of  unbelief.  The  present 
command  appeared  opposed  to  the  Divine  law. 
When  Cain  had  killed  his  brother,  the  blessed 
God  set  a  mark  upon  him,  manifesting  his  high 
disapprobation  of  the  crime,  and  afterwards  or- 
dained, (Gen.  ix.  6,)  "  Whoso  sheddeth  man's 
blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood  be  shed."  And 
could  it  be  supposed  that  this  same  Being  had 
now  called  upon  a  father  to  slay  his  son  ?  Be- 
sides, man  generally  seeks  a  reason  for  the  com- 
mands of  Heaven,  and  is  usually  unwilling  to 
obey,  unless  he  sees  the  wisdom  of  the  requisition. 
Moreover,  there  appeared  a  direct  opposition  be- 


SACRIFICING    HIS    SON.  5^ 

tween  the  command  and  the  previous  promises 
of  Jehovah  :  God  had  promised  that  he  would 
make  of  Abraham  a  great  nation  ; — that  in  him 
should  all  the  flimilies,  or  nations  of  the  earth  be 
blessed  ; — and  that  these  blessings  should  descend 
through  Isaac,  with  whom,  and  his  seed,  God 
would  establish  his  covenant.  How  can  these 
promises  comport  with  the  present  command? 
Do  not  the  ways  of  the  Lord  seem  unequal  ? 
Does  not  all  the  previous  faith  of  Abraham,  and 
his  trust  in  the  Divine  testimony  seem  in  vain? 
Do  not  the  promises  of  Jehovah  appear  likely  to 
be  broken  ?  And  is  not  the  religion  in  which, 
no  doubt,  Abraham  had  often  gloried  before  his 
wicked  neighbours,  likely  to  be  brought  into  de- 
rision ?  The  heathen  would  be  ready  to  ask.  Is 
this  the  nature  of  thy  religion  ?  Doth  the  Deity 
thou  servest  call  to  the  perpetration  of  murder  ? 
Surely  no  such  combination  of  circumstances 
ever  before  met !  At  once  leading  the  saint  to 
duty,  and  tempting  him  from  it. 

But  mark  now  the  triumph  of  Abraham's  faith. 
We  have  often  heard  of  the  wonders  that  faith 
has  achieved  ;  how  it  has  "subdued  kingdoms, 
wrought  righteousness,  obtained  promises,  stop- 
ped the  mouths  of  lions,  quenched  the  violence 
of  fire,"  (fee. ;  but  we  never  heard  of  its  effecting 
a  greater  conquest  than  the  one  now  before  us. 
6 


68  THE    AFFECTIONATE    FATHER 

We  have  road  of  an  Alexander  who  conquered 
the  world,  but  never  subdued  himself.  Here  is 
a  hero  who,  through  faith  in  God,  triumphed 
over  his  natural  dispositions,  rose  superior  to  hu^ 
man  reoson,  and  discharged  the  most  painhil  du- 
ties in  obedience  to  the  Divine  command.  Faith 
convinced  him,  that  though  the  Creator  had  com^ 
manded  man  not  to  slay  his  kind,  yet  he  had,  if 
he  pleased,  a  right  to  impose  it  as  a  duty;  that 
though  he  had  implanted  in  his  soul  affections 
which  revoked  from  this  act,  yet  he  could  do 
nothing  but  Avhatwas  right;  though  leason  could 
not  unfold  the  mysterious  subject,  he  felt  persuad- 
ed that  infinite  wisdom  could  ;  and,  therefore, 
he  resolved  to  trust  God  where  he  could  not  trace 
him.  Let  us  see  how  his  faith  was  manifested. 
See  it  in  his  punctual  obedience.  Listen  to 
the  command,  "  Take  now  thy  son,"  &c.  One 
would  imagine  Abraham  ready  to  say,  with  a 
deep-fetched  sigh,  Well,  if  I  must  discharge  this 
most  painful  of  all  duties,  I  will  defer  it,  at  least 
for  a  little  season  ;  perhaps,  by  my  prayers,  I  may 
prevail  on  the  blessed  God  to  change  his  pur- 
pose;  or  I  may  gradually  wean  my  affections 
from  my  beloved  Isaac  ;  or  at  least,  by  familiar- 
izing the  awful  scene  1  must  pass  through.  I  may 
strip  it  of  some  of  its  horrors.  Is  this  the  case? 
No.     He  "  conferred  not  with  flesh  and  blood." 


SACRIFICING    HIS    SON.  59 

He  delayed  not  the  duty,  because  it  was  painful ; 
but  "he  rose  up  early  in  the  morning,  and  sad- 
dled his  ass,"  and  proceeded  in  search  of  the 
awful  spot  where  the  event  w:>is  to  take  place. 
Convinced  of  the  power  and  the  love  of  his  hea- 
venly Father,  and  well  knowing  that  all  his  de- 
sio^ns  were  founded  in  infinite  wisdom,  and  would 
at  once  promote  his  own.  glory  and  the  good  of 
his  people,  he  hastened  to  the  discharge  of  his 
duty.  Long  had  he  received  favours  from  Hea- 
ven ;  and  he  could  not  suppose  that  he  had  chang- 
ed his  purposes  of  mercy  towards  him.  If  God 
demands  an  Isaac,  He  first  gave  him,  and  he  has 
a  right  to  take  him  away ;  ^'  Shall  not  the  Judge 
of  the  whole  earth  do  right?"  Abraham  is  sa- 
tisfied too,  that  Jehovah  could  raise  Isaac  from 
the  dead.  His  power  to  do  this  could  never  have 
been  denied  ;  but  his  design  of  raising  the  dead 
had  never,  that  we  know  of,  been  revealed.  No 
resurrection  had  taken  place  ;  but  Abraham  well 
knew,  that  thous^h  Isaac  should  die,  "the  pur- 
pose of  God  should  stand,  and  he  would  do  all 
his  pleasure."  The  promise  was,  ••  In  Isaac  shall 
thy  seed  be  called  ;"  and  he  was  persuaded  that 
Omnipotence  would  fultil  '-the  promise  on  which 
he  had  caused  him  to  hope."  "  Accounting," 
says  the  Apostle,  "  that  God  was  able  to  raise 
him  from  the  dead,  from  whence  also  he  received 


60  THE    AFFECTIONATE    FATHER 

him  in  a  figure."  "He  judged  him  faithful  who 
had  promised.''  S  e  this  faith,  in  his  order  to  his 
servants,  and  his  conversation  with  Isaac.  To 
the  former  he  says,  ''  Abide  ye  here  with  the  ass, 
and  I  and  the  lad  will  go  yonder  and  worship, 
aiid  come  again  io  you  .•"  and  to  the  latter,  "My 
son,  God  will  provide  himself  a  lamb  for  a  burnt 
offerin<T."  We  cannot  think  that  the  lamb  here 
referred  to,  was  Isaac  himself,  because  he  would 
have  then  said,  "  God  has  provided  a  lamb,"  &c. 
He  no  doubt  believed,  either  that  the  Lord  would 
interpose  in  some  miraculous  manner  to  prevent 
his  death,  or  rather,  perhaps,  that  he  would  after- 
wards restore  him  to  life.  Certainly  he  had  a 
conviction  that  the  Majesty  of  heaven  would  ap- 
prove the  obedience  he  required  to  his  commands; 
and  this  alone  enabled  him  to  adopt  this  lan- 
guage. How  strikingly  do  we  see  in  this  narra- 
tive '-the  work  of  faith  and  labour  of  level" 

Contemplate  now  the  approbation  of  the  bles- 
sed God,  as  shewn  to  Abraham.  And  but  for 
the  confidence  of  his  enjoying  this,  the  patriarch 
could  not  have  braved  the  trials,  or  have  per- 
formed the  painful  task  before  us.  But  possessing 
this  assurance,  he  is  not  to  be  moved  by  the 
suggestions  of  a  depraved  heart ;  or  even,  if  he 
had  heard  them,  the  taunts  of  infidelity  ;  he  re- 
mains steady  to  his  purpose.  To  please  Jehovah 
was  the  great  object  to  which  he  had  devoted  his 


SACRIFICING     HIS    SON.  61 

life.  And  that  he  had  the  Divine  approbation, 
we  learn  from  several  facts  connected  with  the 
narrative.  We  see  it  in  the  gift  of  strength  to 
enable  his  Aiitli  to  conquer.  Was  Abraham 
''strong in  faith," and  disposed  to  give  "glory  to 
God  ;'- — that  faith  was  increased,  and  that  dis- 
position promoted,  by  Him  who  is  '•  the  giver  of 
every  good  and  perfect  gift  :"  "He  that  hath,  to 
him  shall  be  given."  Abraham  furnishes  a  proof 
that,  in  reference  to  the  man  who  trusts  in  the 
Lord,  ''  as  his  day  so  shall  his  strength  be."  We 
sometimes  say,  that,  were  we  called  to  this  or  the 
other  trial,  we  could  not  sustain  it.  Thus  do  we 
distrust  Him  who  has  graciously  declared,  "  My 
grace  is  sufficient  for  thee."  Does  not  this  declar- 
ation extend  to  the  most  trying  circumstances  the 
Christian  has  to  meet  with  ?  By  indulging  in 
fears  of  this  kind,  we  destroy  our  confidence  in 
the  blessed  God,  and  render  ourselves  unequal 
to  bear  with  suitable  feelings  what  he  is  pleased 
to  inflict.  This  approbation  was  shewn  in  the 
acceptance  of  the  off^jring,  and  the  restoration  of 
Isaac.  "He  that  honoureth  me,  I  will  honour," 
is  the  rule  by  which  the  supreme  Governor  of  the 
world  acts  in  dealing  with  his  creatures  :  and 
here  the  rule  is  exemplified.  God  had  intended 
singular  honours  for  Abraham ;  but  these  ho- 
nours must  be  preceded  by  a  painful  trial  ;  for 
thus  does  the  Divine  Being  teach  his  people  to 

6* 


62  THE    AFFECTIONATE    FATHER 

value  Ijis  blessings.  Abraham  obeys  the  painful 
command  ;  but  Isaac  shall  not  die.  His  design 
is  accepted,  instead  of  its  execution.  The  lad 
is  restored  to  his  father  !  And,  oh  !  how  must 
his  heart  rejoice  to  receive  his  son,  as  it  v/ere  from 
the  embraces  of  death  !  What  scenes  would 
he  have  to  disclose  to  his  beloved  Sarah  after  this 
marvellous  deliverance  !  See  this  approbation 
in  God's  providing  an  offering  :  thus  proclaiming, 
"In  the  mount  of  the  Lord  it  shall  be  seen,"  that 
infinite  wisdom  and  mercy  will  provide  a  substi- 
tute to  die  for  his  people,  that  he  will  appear  for 
them  in  the  hour  of  distress,  and  that  he  will 
abundantly  reward  those  that  serve  him.  While 
Abraham  stood,  in  silent,  grateful  surprise^  mar- 
velling at  the  miraculous  interposition  of  the  great 
Jehovah  in  its  behalf,  he  '•  lifted  up  his  eyes  and 
looked,  and  behold,  behind  him  a  ram  caught  in 
a  thicket  by  his  horns  ;  and  Abraham  went  and 
took  the  ram,  and  offered  him  up  for  a  burnt  offer- 
ing in  the  stead  of  his  son."  God  farther  shewed 
his  approbation  of  his  conduct,  by  renewing  and 
enlarging  the  covenant  he  had  formerly  made 
with  him.  While  the  Most  High  never  blesses 
disobedience,  he  rewards  those  who  obey  him: 
"  By  myself  have  1  sworn,  saith  the  Lord,  for 
because  thou  hast  done  this  thing,  and  hast  not 
withheld  thy  son,  thine  only  son  ;  that  in  blessing 


SACRIFICING    HIS    SON.  63 

I  will  bless  ihee,  and  in  multiplying  I  will  mul- 
tiply thy  seed  as  the  stars  of  heaven,  and  as  the 
sand  upon  the  sea-shore;  and  thy  seed  shall 
possess  the  gate  of  his  enemies  :  and  in  thy  seed 
shall  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  be  blessed,  be- 
cause thou  hast  obeyed  my  voice."  And  see, 
finally,  the  approbation  of  God  in  holding  up  the 
deed  to  the  admiration  of  all  succeeding"  ag-es. 
So  long  as  the  volume  of  Revelation  shall  en- 
dure, ''  shall  this  that  he  hath  done  be  told  for  a 
memorial  of  him."  This  is  the  man  whom  the 
Majesty  of  heaven  delighteth  to  honour;  this  is 
the  individual  he  calls  upon  us  to  imitate. 

It  only  remains  that  we  hint  at  the  lessons 
which  this  most  interesting  subject  suggests  to 
us.  It  presents  us  with  a  type  of  the  death  of 
Christ.  It  was  to  this  the  Saviour  referred,  when 
he  said,  "  Your  father  Abraham  rejoiced  to  see 
my  day,  and  he  saw  it  and  was  glad."  But  how 
far  does  the  antetype  exceed  the  type  !  Abra- 
ham was  ready  to  offer  his  son  ;  but  "  God  spar- 
ed not  HIS  Son,  but  freely  gave  him  up  for  us  all." 
Isaac  was  offered  on  a  mountain  ;  Christ  on  the 
same  mountain,  or  very  near  it,  yielded  up  his 
life.  The  offering  up  of  Isaac  brought  blessings 
to  Abraham ;  the  sacrifice  of  the  Saviour  opened 
a  channel  through  which  eternal  mercies  shall 
flow  to  man.     The  narrative  farther  teaches  us, 


64  THE    AFFECTIONATE    FATHER,    &C. 

that  our  clangers  cannot  be  too  great  for  Him  who 
ruleth  in  the  heavens  to  dehver  us  from  them. 
We  could  hardly  have  supposed  it  possible,  when 
Abraham  had  bound  Isaac  to  the  altar,  and  had 
already  lifted  up  his  hand  to  strike  the  flitalblow, 
that  he  could  have  been  delivered  :  but  with  the 
God  of  the  Christian  all  things  are  possible. 
Who  can  harm,  when  he  protects?  Who  will 
fear,  when  he  is  nigh  ?  We  see  that  Deity 
enjoins  hard  duties,  to  try  his  people.  "God 
tempted,"  or  tried^  Abraham  ;  not  because  he 
was  unknown  to  Omniscience,  but  to  shew  us  the 
nature  of  his  relio^ion.  In  all  succeeding:  ao;es  he 
ever  has,  and  will  visit  his  people  with  his  severe 
dispensations,  "  to  try  them  and  prove  them  ;  to 
see  what  is  in  their  hearts,  and  whether  they  will 
keep  his  commandments  or  no."  And  finally, 
the  subject  illustrates  the  necessity  of  faith  to 
our  happiness.  Had  not  Abraham  possessed 
faith  in  tiie  Divine  testimony,  he  had  not  been 
happy  ;  nor  could  he  have  thus  endured  the  tri- 
als he  was  called  to  sustain.  He  could  not  have 
glorified  his  Creator,  nor  been  thus  held  up  to  the 
admiration  of  all  holy  beings.  "All  men  have 
not  faith."  This  makes  the  world  full  of  misery. 
Let  us  impress  deeply  on  each  of  our  hearts  the 
important  injunction  of  the  Saviour,  "  have 
FAITH  IN  God." 


THE  AFFECTING   FUNERAL. 


OKN.    XXIII. 


Lapt  in  the  slirouil,  the  earth's  cold  breast 
trh:ill  be  thy  hed  for  many  a  year  ; 
And  not  a  dream  disturb  tliy  rest, 
Nor  pain  provoke  a  single  tear. 

Safer  than  gold  in  eastern  mine, 
Safer  than  gnn  in  ocean's  cave, 
Thy  scatter'd  relics  shall  recline 
In  the  deep  coffers  of  the  grave. 

There,  till  the  angel  trumpet  sound, 
Ages  of  silence  thou  shalt  lie  ; 
Then,  from  thy  earthly  cell  rebound, 
Beauteous  in  immortality. 

Edmeston. 

It  is  a  task  pleasing  both  to  the  philosopher  and 
the  Christian,  to  turn  from  the  contemplation  of 
the  show  and  glare — the  hypocritical  pretensions, 
and  but  half-disguised  insincerity  of  the  present 
times,  to  the  patriarchal  ages,  when  the  manners 
of  men  were  distinguished  for  their  simplicity  and 
ingenuousness.  When  we  see  the  sincere  aflec- 
tion  mankind  then  manifested  to  each  other,  their 
freedom  from  everything  like  empty  comphment, 
their  hospitality  to  strangers,  and  their  whole  de- 


6G        THE  AFFECTING  FUNKKAL. 

portmeiit  both  at  home  and  abroad,  we  seem  to 
live  in  another  world,  and  almost  wish  that  our 
lot  had  been  cast  in  their  day.  And  when  we 
look  at  the  abundance  they  possessed,  the  length 
of  their  lives,  and  the  happiness  they  seem  to  have 
enjoyed,  we  are  almost  ready  on  tlie  one  hand  to 
envy  them  their  comforts,  while  on  the  other,  we 
turn  to  weep  over  the  human  heart,  which  makes 
even  the  improvements  of  science  contribute  to 
the  increase  of  sin,  and  consequently  lessens,  in 
many  respects  at  least,  the  happiness  of  man. 

But  while  there  were  some  things  peculiar  to 
the  patriarchal  times,  there  were  others  they  had 
in  common  with  us.  They  experienced  their 
trials.  Some  of  these,  in  the  case  of  Abraham, 
we  have  already  glanced  at  ;  and  have  seen  that, 
though  in  his  connexion  with  Sarah,  his  beloved 
wife,  he  enjoyed  much  happiness,  yet  there  was 
something  in  her  temper  not  very  lovely  ;  a  dis- 
position to  embrace  every  opportunity  to  disturb 
the  peace  and  harmony  of  the  family  ;  and  some- 
thing harsh  and  unkind  towards  her  inferiors. 
Nor  was  she  a  little  disposed,  when  unhappiness 
occurred  in  the  domestic  circle,  to  throw  more 
blame  on  her  husl)and  than  really  belonged  ta 
him.  Added  to  which,  there  was  about  her  a 
strong  tendency  to  disbelieve  the  promises  of  God. 
It  was  Jong  before  she  could  be  brought  to  place 


THE  AFFECTING    FUNERAL.  67 

an  implicit  reliance  on  the  promises  of  Jehovah 
in  reference  to  the  great  blessings  he  would  be- 
stow on  them  and  their  descendants.  All  these 
things  must  be  very  painful  to  a  man  so  peaceable 
and  pious  as  was  Abraham;  and  must  materially 
tend  to  embitter  his  days.  Of  how  much  impor- 
tance is  it,  that  those  whom  a  kind  Providence 
has  united  together  in  conjugal  bonds  should 
study  the  peace  and  comfort  of  each  other,  and 
"walk  as  heirs  together  of  the  grace  of  hfe,  that 
their  prayers  be  not  hindered." 

But  notwithstanding  that  Abraham  found  in 
Sarah  these  imperfections,  he  loved  her  with  the 
fondest  regard.  She  was  the  wife  of  his  youthj 
— was  distinguished  for  her  beauty,  and  in  their 
old  age  was  the  mother  of  their  beloved  Isaac. 
Long  had  they  shared  the  joys  and  the  sorrows 
of  life  together,  and  talked  to  each  other  of  the 
goodness  of  Jehovah  which  they  had  already  ex- 
perienced ;  while  looking  forward,  the  eye  of  their 
imaginations  delineated  the  happy  scenes  that 
should  appear,  when  the  promises  which  God  had 
made  to  them,  as  to  the  increase  of  their  children, 
and  their  happiness  as  his  peculiar  people,  should 
be  completely  fulfilled.  And  especially  must  they 
rejoice  in  the  blessings  of  the  Messiah's  reign, 
whom  they  knew  was  to  be  reckoned  among 
their  descendants  :  these  were  indeed  causes  for 
gratitude  to  the  God  of  their  mercies. 


68        THE  AFFECTING  FUNERAL. 

But  great  and  pure  as  were  the  joys  of  these 
holy  persons,  they  were  not  lasting.  The  great- 
est beauty  must  fade,  the  strongest  limbs  must  de- 
cay, and  the  longest  life  must  end.  One  hun- 
dred and  twenty-seven  years  had  Sarah  travelled 
the  wilderness  of  this  world ;  long  had  she  en- 
joyed the  company  of  an  affectionate  husband; 
thirty-seven  years  had  she  been  the  mother  of  the 
amiable  Isaac;  and  twelve  years  had  elapsed  from 
the  period  when  he  was  offered  to  God,  and 
again  restored  to  his  parents  a  greater  blessing 
than  ever ;  and  now  the  painful  separation  must 
take  place  :  she  must  be  torn  from  her  beloved 
husband,  and  her  affectionate  son  ;  she  must  leave 
the  scenes  on  which  her  fond  eyes  had  often  gaz- 
ed with  exquisite  pleasure,  and  bid  adieu  to  the 
world,  the  pleasures  of  which,  as  well  as  its  sor- 
rows, she  had  long  known.  This  must  be  the 
end  of  mortals.  Whatever  we  are,  whatever  we 
possess,  however  long  we  may  live,  it  must  be 
said  of  us,  "and  they  died."  Sin  has  conquered 
the  world,  and  we  must  all  bow  before  the  "  king 
of  terrors,"  whom  that  sin  has  introduced  to 
shew  the  power  of  his  conquests.  In  every 
death  that  occurs,  we  trace  the  Divine  anger 
against  transgression,  and  see  cause  why,  as 
men,  our  pride  should  be  humbled,  and  why,  as 
guilty  sinners,  we  should  seek  pardon  through 
the  mediation  of  Jesus  Christ. 


THE  AFFECTING  FUNERAL.       69 

But,  besides  these,  there  were  other  reasons 
why  Sarah  should  submit  to  death.  She  had 
been  taught,  by  the  good  Spirit  of  God,  the  van- 
ity of  all  earthly  things  ;  she  had  been  enabled  to 
believe  the  testimony  of  Jehovah  ;  and  this  faith  in- 
fluenced her  conduct  for  a  considerable  portion  of 
her  life.  Hence  she  is  enrolled  by  Paul  on  the 
list  of  worthies,  in  the  eleventh  chapter  of  his 
Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  as  one  of  those  who  re- 
ceived not  the  accomplishment  of  the  promises, 
in  the  advent  of  the  Messiah  and  the  introduction 
of  his  dispensation  ;  "  but  saw  them  afar  off,  and 
were  persuaded  of  them,  and  embraced  them,  and 
confessed  that  they  were  strangers  and  pilgrims 
on  the  earth."  And  thus  being  weaned  from  this 
world,  and  having  her  affections  placed  on  an- 
other, "'  that  is,  a  heavenly,"  it  was  desirable  she 
should  be  removed  to  it.  The  good  man,  though 
he  lives  in  this  world,  considers  his  home  to  be 
in  another  ;  and  to  that  state  his  steps  are  direct- 
ed :  to  possess  its  spirit  is  the  object  of  his  present 
desire,  and  to  glorify  its  Author  his  daily  aim. 
Thus  he  is  raised  above  the  pursuits  and  the  en- 
joyments of  earth,  and  only  waits  the  command 
of  his  Father,  to  remove  hence.  And  though, 
to  be  separated  from  our  beloved  connexions  may 
be  painful,  yet  it  is  soon  over  ;  while,  if  they  are 
united  to  Christ  as  well  as  ourselves,  we  shall 
7 


70       THE  AFFECTING  FUNERAL. 

ere  long  meet  again,  to  be  divided  no  more.  The 
union  between  believers  in  Jesus  is  one  that  is 
lasting ;  that  death  cannot  put  asunder,  but  upon 
which  he  acts  as  a  friend,  removing  from  them  all 
that  divides  their  affections,  and  mars  their  joys, 
and  conducting  them  to  a  world  where  the  possi- 
bility of  a  frown,  or  the  least  alienation  of  feel- 
ing, shall  for  ever  be  utterly  unknown. 

It  has  been  remarked,  that  Sarah  is  the  only 
woman  in  the  sacred  writings  whose  age,  death, 
and  burial,  are  distinctly  noted ;  and  certainly, 
though  not  without  great  faults,  she  merited  an 
honourable  distinction.  As  the  wife  of  Abra- 
ham, and  as,  in  a  sense,  at  the  head  of  the  faith- 
ful women  in  Scripture,  she  is  mentioned ;  but 
even  this  memorial  of  her  is  adapted  to  remind 
us  of  our  origin  and  home — the  dust. 

The  death  of  friends,  whom  we  have  long 
loved  and  associated  with,  is  a  trying  event. 
They  were  essential  to  our  comfort,  and  to  have 
them  torn  from  us  is  to  be  plunged  into  sorrow. 
They  leave  the  world,  as  to  us,  a  barren  waste ; 
their  death  proclaims  the  ravages  of  sin,  while 
it  reminds  us  of  our  own  mortality,  and  that  we 
also  must  go  down  to  the  grave.  Abraham, 
therefore,  might  well  "  mourn  for  Sarah,  and 
weep  for  her."  This  was  perfectly  natural ;  we 
ought  to  be  sensible  of  our  losses;  and  while  we 
bless  the  God  who  gave  us  our  comforts,  he  does 


THE  AFFECTING  FUNERAL.        71 

not  forbid  us  to  mourn  when  he  takes  them 
away.  The  Saviour  himself  sanctified  grief  for 
the  loss  of  our  friends,  when  he  shed  the  tear  of 
sorrow  over  the  grave  of  Lazarus.  It  was  fit, 
then,  that  Abraham  should  weep  over  the  corpse 
of  his  wife  ;  it  was  a  tribute  due  to  her  virtues  ; 
it  was  a  proof  of  his  sensibility  as  to  her  loss  ;  and 
it  had  a  tendency  to  impress  both  his  own  heart, 
and  the  hearts  of  those  around  him,  and  lead 
them  to  reflect  on  the  vanity  and  uncertainty  of 
the  present  life. 

But  while  it  is  lawful  to  indulge  in  sorrow 
when  we  are  visited  by  bereaving  providences,  it 
does  not  become  us  to  give  up  ourselves  entirely 
to  the  influence  of  grief.  There  are  duties  to  be 
discharged  both  to  the  dead  and  the  living,  which 
we  are  inexcusable  if  we  neglect.  We  should 
remember  the  Being  who  takes  away  "the  desire 
of  our  eyes,"  and  be  concerned  to  submit  to  his 
will,  knowing  that  he  cannot  err  in  his  designs 
or  his  conduct.  Besides  which,  it  becomes  us  to 
seek  our  own  comfort  in  the  pursuit  of  our  law- 
ful callings,  and  the  welfare  of  such  of  our  con- 
nexions as  the  providence  of  God  has  still  kind- 
ly spared  to  us.  In  all  this  we  have  the  example 
of  Abraham,  who,  though  with  great  sincerity 
he  wept  over  the  corpse  of  his  beloved  Sarah, 
soon  remembered  he  had  duties  of  an  important 
nature  to  discharge,  and  rose  to  fulfil  them. 


70  THE  AFFECTINa   FUNERAL. 

The  land  of  Canaan,  in  which  M  raham  and 
his  family  had  long  lived,  had,  for  a  series  of 
years,  been  promised  him  by  the  goodness  of 
God  ;  but  his  providence  had  not  yet  given  him 
possession  of  enough  of  it  to  set  his  foot  upon ; 
and  now  that  he  has  lost  his  beloved  wife,  he  has 
not  a  grave  in  which  he  can  lay  her  corpse. 
Rising,  then,  before  the  inhabitants  of  the  land, 
he  tells  them  of  his  bereavement,  reminds  them 
of  his  being  only  a  stranger  in  their  country, 
and  entreats  them  to  allow  him  land  enough  for 
"a  burying  place"  for  his  deceased  wife,  and  such 
of  his  family  who  yet  remained  alive,  but  who 
in  a  few  years  must  all  be  numbered  with  the 
beloved  object  whose  remains  he  had  just  left. 
It  is  really  pleasing  to  see  with  what  courtesy  he 
addresses  them.  Religion  is  not  opposed  to  the 
polite  usages  of  society,  unless  indeed  they  are 
inconsistent  with  sincerity ;  it  rather  enjoins 
upon  us  the  command,  "  Be  courteous,"  a  duty 
which  at  once  recommends  us  to  the  esteem  of 
our  fellow  men,  and  tends  to  shew  them  that 
religion  makes  it  possessors  amiable. 

And  while,  on  the  one  hand,  we  admire  the 
simplicity  and  the  courtesy  of  Abraham  ;  so,  on 
the  other,  we  are  pleased  with  the  conduct  of  the 
children  of  Heth  towards  him.  They  appear 
to  have  sympathized  with  him  in  his  trial  ;  they 


THE  AFFECTING  FUNERAL.        73 

justly  considered  him  a  favourite  of  Heaven,  and 
very  handsomely  offered  him  the  choice  of  their 
tombs,  declaring  that  no  man  would  withhold 
his  sepulchre  from  him.  It  looks  well  when  those 
who  have  no  just  sense  of  religion  pay  respect  to 
those  who  have  ;  and  it  excites  our  hope,  that  as 
they  have  begun  to  discover  their  personal  worth, 
they  may  in  time  ascertain  what  it  is  that  makes 
Christians  superior  to  themselves. 

The  religion  of  Abraham  had  given  him  cor- 
rect views  of  justice  ;  and  as  he  was  a  rich  man, 
he  very  properly  declined  the  offer  of  the  sons  of 
Heth.  Farther  than  this,  he  knew  that  the  dis- 
positions of  men  were  liable  to  change,  and  that 
the  very  persons  who  now  offered  him  a  burying 
place,  might,  in  a  little  time,  disturb  the  bones 
of  her  whom  he  so  tenderly  loved,  or  place  by 
her  side  their  own  friends,  whom  in  life  she 
did  not  know,  or  whose  crimes  had  excited  her 
abhorrence.  Added  to  which,  the  good  old  man 
wished  his  whole  family  to  be  finally  interred 
in  the  same  tomb  ;  that,  as  they  were  united  in 
life,  so  they  might  be  in  death  ;  and  in  the 
morning  of  the  resurrection,  when  their  bodies 
burst  from  the  grave,  their  eyes  might  first  mu- 
tually fix  on  each  other,  and  renew  at  once  the 
intercourse  they  held  on  earth.  Besides  all  this, 
the  land  of  Canaan  had,  by  promise,  been  given 
7* 


74       THE  AFFECTIRG  FUNERAL. 

to  him,  and  he  wished  in  this  way  to  take  pos- 
session of  it.  The  bones  of  Sarah  became  a  de- 
posit ;  from  this  time  he  would  look  on  it  as  his 
home,  and  indulge  the  most  confident  assurance 
that  his  seed  should  possess  the  whole  country. 

Influenced  by  these  views,  he  entreated  the  in- 
habitants of  Hebron  to  use  their  influence  with 
Ephron,  to  sell  him  a  field  in  Machpelah,  of 
which  he  was  the  owner,  and  which  had  in  it  a 
cave  suitable  for  a  family  vault.  Though  Abra- 
ham was  a  rich  man,  and  enjoyed  the  good  will 
of  his  neighbours,  yet,  being  comparatively  a 
stranger,  he  does  not  presume  on  possessing  in- 
fluence himself,  but  begs  the  kind  offices  of  his 
neighbours.  In  this  way  did  he  manifest  his  hu- 
mility.  Ephron,  immediately,  very  handsomely 
makes  him  an  offer  of  the  field  as  a  token  of  his 
friendship ;  but,  for  the  reasons  we  have  already 
assigned,  Abraham  declined  its  acceptance,  and 
paid  him  down  the  sum  at  which  he  estimated 
its  value — about  fifty  pounds  of  our  money. 

Let  us  pause  here,  to  indulge  in  one  or  two 
reflections. — The  first  land  that  Abraham  bought 
was  not  to  build  houses  upon,  or  to  convert  into 
vineyards,  but  to  afford  him  a  burying  place.  He 
painfully  felt  the  fact  of  human  mortality  ;  and 
remembering  that  he  was  but  dust,  be  shewed  a 
concern,  first  of  all,  to  provide  his  last  home. 
The  Jews  frequently  had  their  sepulchres  pre- 


THE    AFFECTING    FUNERAL.  74? 

pared  long:  before  their  deaths,  to  remind  them  of 
their  mortality.  Joseph  of  Arimathea  had  his 
tomb  in  his  garden,to  moderate  his  delights  with  the 
thoughts  of  his  end.  The  Egyptians  had  a  death's 
head  carried  about  the  table  at  their  feasts  ;  and  a 
stonemason  waited  on  the  emperors  of  Constan- 
tinople, on  the  day  of  their  coronation,  with  a 
choice  of  tombstones.  And  so  Abraham,  on  this 
occasion,  as  death  had  begun  his  inroads  on  his 
family,  would  make  provision  of  a  burying  place 
for  them  all ;  as  they  had  lived  together  on  earth, 
so  he  would  have  them  lie  togetlier  after  death, 
"  Sepulchres,"  an  old  divine  has  remarked, 
"  are  symbols  of  the  communion  of  saints,  and 
of  the  resurrection  of  the  dead  ;  hence  the  He- 
brews called  burying  grounds  the  houses  of  the 
living."  The  living  and  the  dead  are  united^ 
and  will  before  long  meet  together  in  one  place. 
Another  remark,  not  unworthy  of  notice,  is^ 
that  the  first  time  we  read  of  money  is  in  con- 
nexion with  the  purchase  of  a  grave;  as  though 
the  Spirit  of  God  would  teach  us  the  folly  of 
those  who  make  gold  their  god,  and  place  their 
affections  on  what  will  purchase  a  tomb,  rather 
than  the  blessings  and  enjoyments  of  life.  The 
man  who  seeks  to  be  rich  may  ensure  a  magni- 
ficent  mausoleum,  but  his  money  cannot  pur- 
chase his  exemption  from  the  evils  of  the  pre- 


76        THE  AFFECTING  FUNERAL. 

sent  life,  or  ensure  him  the  enjoyment  of  the  Di- 
vine favour  after  death.  These  must  be  obtain- 
ed from  a  world  where  the  coin  of  the  present 
state  does  not  pass  current.  The  favour  of  God 
may  be  enjoyed  by  the  poorest  among  men,  by  the 
exercise  of  faith  in  the  revelation  he  has  given 
of  his  Son ;  this  alone  will  bring  us  to  the  en- 
joyment of  the  friendship  of  our  Maker  on  earthy 
or  introduce  us  to  the  joys  of  heaven  hereafter. 
And  though  we  possessed  the  wealth  of  the  In- 
dies, without  an  interest  in  the  Mediator,  we 
should,  as  to  all  permanent  blessings,  be  poor  in- 
deed. 

Having  paid  down  the  value  of  the  land, 
Abraham  was  anxious  to  have  it  secured  to  him. 
The  body  he  was  about  to  lay  there,  he  reckon- 
ed of  great  value,  and  he  could  not  bear  the  idea 
of  its  removal  ;  besides  which,  though  he  was 
content  to  wander  about  while  he  lived,  he 
wished  when  he  died  that  his  body  might  "  rest 
in  hope,"  that  he  might  lie  among  his  connex- 
ions, and  be  laid  in  the  land  that  his  descendants 
should  long  continue  to  inhabit.  The  desire  of 
his  heart  was  granted,  "  and  the  field  and  the 
cave  that  is  therein  were  made  sure  unto  Abra- 
ham, for  a  possession  of  a  burying  place,  by  the 
sons  of  Heth." 

These  preliminaries  baing  all  settled,  the  ven- 


THE  AFFECTING  FUNERAL.       7/ 

erable  patriarch  buried  liis  beloved  Sarah.  The 
very  object  on  which  he  once  delighted  to  look 
had  now  become  offensive  to  his  senses,  and 
must  be  buried  out  of  his  sight.  Dust  we  are, 
and  to  dust  we  must  return.  Who  does  not,  as 
she  falls  into  the  grave,  drop  the  tear  of  sym- 
pathy and  grief  over  such  a  corpse  ?  She  leaves 
her  family  in  the  midst  of  their  fairest  prospects, 
and  "her  sons  come  to  honour,  hut  she  seeth  it 
not."  However  we  may  be  distinguished  for  our 
beauty  and  activity,  however  eminent  for  our 
bodily  strength,  or  our  mental  powers,  we  must 
go  down  to  the  grave  and  become  food  for 
worms.  It  must  be  said  of  us,  as  Pope  said  of  a 
deceased  lady. 

How  lov'd,  how  valued  once,  avails  thee  not, 
To  whom  related,  or  by  whom  begot; 
A  heap  of  dust  alone  remains  of  thee, 
'Tis  all  thou  art,  and  all  the  proud  must  be. 

And  though  we  may  appear  essential  to  the  hap- 
piness of  our  connexions,  and  throw  a  lustre 
over  general  society, — though  by  our  property 
we  may  feed  the  poor,  or  by  our  talents  contri- 
bute to  the  welfare  of  a  kingdom,  or  render  im- 
portant services  to  the  church  of  God, — all  will 
be  of  no  avail  when  death  receives  his  commis- 
sion to  summon  us  hence.     The  tear  of  regret 


78       THE  AFFECTING  FUNERAL. 

may  fall  from  many  an  eye,  but  the  affairs  of 
our  families  and  of  general  society  will  soon 
move  on  as  though  we  had  never  been.  Death 
makes  the  most  cruel  separations,  and  tears  us 
from  our  dearest  connexions,  while  he  calls  on 
those  who  once  worshipped  us  as  their  idols  to 
look  on  our  remams  with  disg^ust,  and  say  to 
their  neighbours, ''  give  me  possession  of  a  bury- 
ing place,  thut  I  may  bury  my  dead  out  of  my 
sight." 

But  w^hile  we  take  a  view  of  the  subject  so 
eminently  calculated  to  mortify  our  pride,  and 
to  wean  us  from  an  undue  attachment  to  the 
present  world,  we  should  not  forget  that  the 
body  of  Sarah  was  laid  here  m  the  firm  per- 
suasion that  the  whole  land,  of  which  Abmham 
thus  took  possession,  should  be  occupied  by  her 
descendants  ;  and,  however  melancholy  the  com- 
mencement of  their  entering  upon  it,  should  make 
them  happy ;  for  here  God  would  be  worship- 
ped, and  his  people  blest.  There  is  a  still  more 
pleasing  view  that  we  may  take  of  the  tomb, 
when  it  is  occupied  by  a  believer  in  the  Son  of 
God.  In  such  a  case,  the  grave  is  made  the 
means  of  purifying  the  body  from  the  defilement 
of  sin  ;  the  precious  dust  is  watched  over  by  the 
adorable  Redeemer,  who  at  the  last  day  shall  not 
merely  raise  it  from  the  grave,  for  this  shall  be 


THE  AFFECTING  FUNERAL.       79 

the  lot  of  men  universally,  but  shall  bring  his 
people  from  the  dnst,  and  confer  upon  them,  as 
bearing  his  own  image,  immortal  glory.  While 
they  shall  be  for  ever  secured  from  death,  they 
shall  enjoy  all  that  can  make  their  existence  in- 
finitely happy.  At  that  day  Abraham  and  Sarah 
shall  burst  from  their  tomb,  and  experience  hap- 
piness unspeakably  superior  to  any  they  knevf 
on  earth,  in  the  presence  of  their  God  and  Sa- 
viour, and  that  for  an  eternal  period. 

Hiving  buried  his  beloved  Sarah,  the  vener- 
able patriarch  began  to  set  his  house  in  order, 
and  to  prepare  for  the  great  change  that  he  him- 
self must  undergo.  One  of  the  strongest  ties 
which  bound  him  to  earth  had  been  cut  asunder  ; 
while  heaven  now  possessed  an  additional  at- 
traction. He  felt  himself  still  united  in  heart  to 
the  beloved  object  who  had  been  torn  from  his 
embraces,  and  could  enter  into  the  sentiment 
that  has  been  well  expressed  by  a  modern  poet, 

"  Hearts  in  the  holy  bands  of  love  combin'd 
Death  has  no  power  to  sever.     Thou  art  mine  ! 
A  little  whi'e,  and  thou  shalt  dwell  with  mc 
In  scenes  where  sorrow  is  not.     Cheerily 
Tread  thou  the  path  that  leads  thee  to  the  grave; 
Rough  though  it  be,  and  painful  ;  for  the  Grave 
Is  but  the  threshold  of  Eternity." 

But  while  he  looked  forward  to  the  happy  pe- 


80       THE  AFFECTING  FUNERAL. 

riod  when  he  should  be  re-united  to  Sarah,  he 
was  concerned,  in  the  meantime,  to  discharge 
the  duties  that  God  had  commanded  him.  He 
probably  breathed  the  spirit  of  another  of  the 
patriarchs,  possibly  his  contemporary,  when  he 
said,  "  All  the  days  of  my  appointed  time  will  I 
wait,  till  my  change  come." 

Let  us  rise  from  the  consideration  of  this  sub- 
ject deeply  impressed  with  the  vanity  and  muta- 
bility of  all  earthly  good ;  and  remembering 
that,  however  lovely  and  engaging  our  compa- 
nions may  be,  we  must  soon  be  separated  from 
them  by  death.  Let  us  learn  the  folly  of  placing 
our  affections  on  worldly  riches ;  seeing  thai 
even  if  they  do  not  "take  to  themselves  wings 
and  fly  away,"  they  will  not  ward  off  death,  nor 
furnish  us,  after  it,  with  a  better  residence  than 
the  grave.  Let  us  rejoice  that  the  intimate 
and  delightful  connexion  between  the  people  of 
God  does  not  end  with  the  present  life,  but  is  re- 
newed, and  that  for  ever,  in  the  world  of  eternal 
glory,  where  they  shall  be  drawn  closer  together 
in  the  bands  of  the  purest  affection  and  joy. 
And  let  it  be  our  anxious  concern  to  enjoy  the 
favour  of  Christ,  which  shall  enable  us  to  smile 
at  the  last  enemy,  to  descend  to  the  grave  with 
a  calm  serenity,  and  to  rise  with  unutterable  joy, 
to  the  realms  of  immortal  life,  "  and  so  shall  we 
be  ever  with  the  Lord." 


THE  PATRIARCHAL  WEDDING. 

GEN.    XXIV. 

Across  the  road  a  seraph  flew  : 

'  Mark,'  said  he,  *  that  happy  pair ; 

Marriage  helps  devotion  there. 

When  kindred  minds  their  God  pursue, 

They  break  with  double  vigour,  through 

The  dull  incumbent  air.' 

Watts. 

In  reading  the  page  of  history,  who  has  not 
been  struck  with  the  rapid  and  numerous  changes 
in  the  Hfe  of  man  7  Here  we  see  an  individual 
in  his  boyish  years  ;  he  rapidly  hastens  to  man- 
hood, and  sets  sail  on  the  ocean  of  life,  filled 
with  expectations  of  happiness  from  the  world  : 
but  alas  !  at  the  period  when  he  expected  full 
possession  of  enjoyment,  misfortunes  pursue 
him,  or  death  enters  his  dwelling,  and  snatches 
from  his  arms  some  of  his  dearest  connexions ; 
and,  before  he  can  recover  from  the  effects  of 
this  disappointment,  he  feels  the  infirmities  of 
age  oppress  him,  and  sees  death  on  his  rapid 
8 


82  THE    PATRIARCHAL    WEDDING. 

march  towards  him.  He  lays  himself  on  his  dy- 
ing pillow,  and  while,  if  a  believer  in  the  truths 
of  divine  revelation,  and  one  who  has  been  en- 
abled by  divine  grace  to  flee  to  Christ  for  hap- 
piness, he  is  willing  to  depart  hence,  he  wishes 
to  guard  his  children  against  the  evils  he  has 
observed  in  the  world,  into  many  of  which  he 
has  himself  fallen  ;  and  to  lead  them  to  the  paths 
of  virtue  and  happiness. 

Every  reader  will  perceive  the  application  of 
these  remarks  to  "  the  Father  of  the  Faithful." 
One  hundred  and  forty  years  had  the  pious  Abra- 
ham trod  the  wilderness  of  the  world ;  and  trials, 
numerous,  complicated,  and  heavy  had  been  his 
lot.  But  the  goodness  of  God  had,  notwith- 
standing, blessed  him  with  great  favours.  He 
enjoyed  a  large  portion  of  this  world's  happi- 
ness ;  Jehovah  had  given  him  a  beloved  Isaac, 
had  delivered  him  from  death,  and  had  connect- 
•ed  with  his  deliverance  promises  the  most  inter- 
esting and  important.  But  he  had  lost  his  af- 
fectionate Sarah,  and  was  at  present,  as  he  ap- 
prehended, near  to  an  eternal  world.  The  anx- 
ious feelings  of  a  parent  for  the  happiness  of 
his  son,  arose  in  his  heart.  Isaac  was  forty  years 
old,  but  had  not  taken  to  himself  a  wife.  It  is 
probable  that  his  affection  towards  his  parents 
was  great;  and  he  was,  therefore,  unwilling  to  be 


THE    PATRIARCHAL    WEDDING.  83 

separated  from  them ;  he  feared  Jehovah,  and 
he  saw  none  around  him  possessed  of  "  like  pre- 
cious faith,"  with  whom  he  could  form  so  close 
a  connexion  ;  besides  which,  he  considered  him- 
self at  the  disposal  of  his  father,  in  whose  wis- 
dom and  prudence  he  placed  the  most  unlimited 
confidence.  Abraham,  who  was  every  way 
worthy  of  such  a  son,  felt  anxious,  both  that  Isaac 
should  marry,  and  that  the  object  of  his  best 
earthly  regard  should  not  be  an  idolater,  with 
whom  they  were  entirely  surrounded.  There 
can  be  no  doubt  that  the  affair  had  long  been  with 
him  a  matter  of  deliberation  and  prayer:  but 
the  manner  in  which  God  would  bring  about 
the  marriage  had  not  been  disclosed  to  him  till 
now. 

A  pious,  disinterested,  faithful,  and  affectionate 
servant  is  an  acquisition  of  inestimable  value. 
Such  an  one  had  Abraham  in  the  person  of  Elie- 
zer,  who  was  born  in  his  house,  and  resided  with 
him  more  than  fifty  years,  and  in  whose  hands 
Abraham  had  entrusted  the  management  of  many 
of  his  domestic  affairs  ;  "  for  all  the  goods  of  his 
master  were  in  his  hands."  This  man  was  once 
the  heir  apparent  of  Abraham's  property  ;  but 
though  God  had  disappointed  his  expectations  on 
that  head,  he  had  not  relaxed  in  his  attention  to 
his  master's  interest,  but,  fearing  Jehovah,  and 


84  THE    PATRIARCHAL    WEDDING. 

loving  Abraham  his  master,  continued  anxiously 
to  seek  the  welfare  of  his  family. 

The  venerable  patriarch  called  this  tried  and 
faithful  servant,  and  entrusted  him  with  the  im- 
portant business  of  ^oing  to  the  land  of  Mesopo- 
tamia, and  seeking,  from  among  his  kindred,  a 
wife  for  his  son  Isaac.  We  hardly  know  which 
to  admire  most  in  this  transaction  ; — the  careful 
solicitude  of  Abraham,  that  his  son  might  be  pre- 
served from  idolatry ;  his  wisdom  in  entrusting 
the  commission  to  Eliezer,  and  the  solemn  man- 
ner in  which  the  transaction  was  performed  ; — 
or  the  willingness  of  the  servant  to  undertake  the 
journey  ;  the  commendable  caution  he  shewed, 
in  enterino^  into  an  eno^aorement  of  so  solemn  a 
nature  as  to  be  connected  with  an  oath,  or  the 
anxiety  he  shewed  to  fulfil  the  wishes  of  his 
master. 

Having  made  the  preparations  which  a  journey 
of  so  much  importance  required,  he  set  out,  ac- 
companied, no  doubt,  with  many  an  ardent  pray- 
er that  the  God  of  Abraham  would  guide  him. 
We  see  here  the  manner  in  which  this  important 
matter  of  marriage  should  be  proceeded  in,— with 
much  caution  and  prayer.  We  cannot  expect 
happiness  unless  we  watch  the  leadings  of  divine 
Providence,  and  follow  wliere  he  leads  us.  Per- 
haps if  the  fact  could  be  ascertained^  we  should 


THE    PATRIARCHAL    WEDDING.  bO 

find  that  very  few  persons  are  unhappy  in  the 
marriage  state,  who  enter  upon  it  in  the  fear  of 
God,  having  first  sought  his  wisdom  to  direct 
them  in  their  choice,  and  made,  like  Isaac,  true 
religion  an  essential  quaUfication  in  the  character 
of  their  partners. 

See,  then,  Eliezer  pursuing  the  wearisome 
journey,  of  four  hundred  and  sixty  miles,  over 
ground  that  perhaps  had  hardly  been  travelled 
before.  He  goes  on  an  important  errand,  and  is 
concerned  suitably  to  discharge  the  duties  which 
devolve  upon  him.  His  young  master  could  not 
marry  among  his  neighbours,  because,  as  idola- 
ters, they  were  under  the  curse  of  God  ;  and 
though  the  family  to  which  he  was  travelling, 
the  descendants  of  Shem,  were  partially  the  vo- 
taries of  idolatry,  yet  did  they  possess  the  know- 
ledge of  the  true  God,  whom  they  worshipped  ; 
on  which  account  he  was  far  more  likely  to  meet 
with  genuine  religion  among  them. 

Arrived  without  the  city  of  Nahor,  Eliezer 
stopped  ;  and,  knowing  that  "  the  steps  of  a 
good  man  are  ordered  by  the  Lord,"  he  looked  to 
Heaven  for  help.  Now,  indeed,  was  the  time  he 
needed  Divine  direction,  and  now,  as  at  all  times, 
was  the  Supreme  Being  ready  to  afford  it. 
Anxious  that  his  way  might  appear  to  him  quite 
clear,  he  prayed  that  God  in  his  providence 
8* 


86  THE    PATRIARCHAL    WEDDING, 

would  send  the  damsel  whom  he  had  appointed 
for  his  master  Isaac  to  the  well  ;  and  that  when 
he  requested  water  of  her,  she  should  draw  both 
for  him  and  his  camels.  It  is  not  wise  in  us  to 
dictate  to  the  blessed  God  in  what  way  he  shall 
answer  our  prayers  ;  this,  in  us,  who  have  a 
clearer  revelation  from  Heaven  than  Eliezer  had, 
would  be  presumption  :  but  as  in  this  case  the 
petition  flowed  from  the  purest  motives,  and  was 
not  opposed  to  the  revelation  Jehovah  had  then 
given  oi  himself,  he  was  pleased  to  answer  the 
good  man  in  his  own  way  ;  who,  finding  that 
his  prayer  was  regarded,  was  filled  with  astonish- 
ment. Perhaps  the  littleness  of  his  faith  had 
hardly  led  him  to  expect  an  answer  ;  or  probably, 
when  he  received  the  answer  he  expected,  he  was 
filled  with  surprise,  that  the  Most  High  would 
hsten  to  the  prayers  of  one  so  unworthy.  It  is  a 
fact  not  a  little  remarkable,  and  which  tends  to 
confirm  the  doctrine  of  human  depravity,  that 
even  the  best  of  men — those  who  believe  that 
God  is  willing  to  fulfil  their  requests — look  so 
httle  for  those  answers,  and  express  so  much 
astonishment  when  they  receive  them.  Surely 
this  is  a  proof  of  the  weakness  of  their  faith  in 
the  Divine  promises,  and  ought  to  be  a  motive 
for  the  deepest  humiliation  before  the  Lord. 
One  cannot  dwell  on  the  events  of  the  patri- 


THE    PATRIARCHAL   WEDDINa.  87 

archal  age  without  being  delighted  with  the 
simplicity  that  characterized  their  manners.  We 
have  admired  the  conduct  of  Isaac,  who  referred 
even  the  business  of  his  marriage  to  his  father  ; 
and  here  we  are  led  to  mark  the  same  simple  and 
lovely  conduct  in  the  character  of  Rebekah. 
Women,  even  in  the  highest  ranks  of  life,  were 
not  then  above  tiie  discharge  of  domestic  business. 
The  wife  of  the  monarch  would  "seek  wool  and 
flax,  and  work  willingly  with  her  hands,"  and 
the  daughter  of  the  wealthiest  man  would  water 
the  cattle,  and  carry  home  the  vessel  filled  with 
water  for  culinary  purposes.  And  who  sees  not 
in  all  this,  manners  more  truly  respectable  than 
those  of  the  present  day,  when  the  time  of  a  fe- 
male is  consumed  at  the  toilet,  in  frivolous  plea- 
sures, or  in  retailing  the  tales  of  scandal  7 

While  Eliezer  was  addressing  his  God  in  pray- 
er, the  lovely,  industrious,  and  courteous  Rebekah 
Game,  with  her  pitcher  upon  her  shoulder,  to  the 
well,  and  filled  it  with  water.  Struck  with  this 
speedy  answer  to  his  petitions, — with  the  beauty 
of  her  person,  for — 

Her  form  was  fresher  than  the  morning  rose 
When  the  dew  wets  its  leaves, — 

and  feeling  the  effect  of  heat  and^thirst,  he  solicit- 
ed a  little  water  from  her,  that  he  might  drinkr 


8S  THE    PATRIARCHAL    WEDDING. 

Her  heart  overflowing  with  benevolence  to  the 
needy,  in  the  spirit  of  genuine  politeness,  leads 
her  readily  to  accede  to  his  request  ;  and,  feel- 
ing the  kind  sympathies  of  humanity,  she  propos- 
es also  to  draw  water  for  his  camels  ;  which, 
without  waiting  for  his  answer,  she  hastens  to 
do  ;  thus  shewing  her  industry,  as  well  as  her 
courtesy. 

All  this  is  viewed  by  the  good  man  with  as- 
tonishment ;  and  he  at  length  concluded  that  God 
had  prospered  his  journey.  He  proceeded  to  give 
Rebekah  proofs  of  his  regard  to  her,  by  present- 
ing her  with  handsome  gifts,  the  custom  of  that, 
and  indeed,  more  or  less,  of  every  age  and  coun- 
try. He  inquired  who  she  was,  and  whether  her 
father  could  furnish  him  and  his  attendants  with 
accommodations  for  a  short  period  ?  She  readily 
gave  him  her  own  name,  and  that  of  her  parents, 
and  assured  liim  of  a  welcome  reception  at  her 
father's  house.  Ah  !  thou  lovely  female  !  little 
dost  thou  think  of  the  designs  of  Providence  ; 
thou  knowest  not  that  thy  name  and  conduct 
shall  be  immortalized  on  the  page  of  inspiration  ; 
and  tliat  events  the  most  important  are  suspended 
on  thy  present  conduct.  It  is  not  for  us  to  know 
the  designs  of  Heaven.  The  greatest  affairs  of- 
ten depend  on  the  most  trifling  events.  A  word, 
or  even  a  look,  has  frequently  led  to  very  surpris- 


THE    PATRIARCHAL    WEDDING.  89 

Thus  was  it  here  :  Rebekah's 
kindness  convinced  Eliezer  that  she  was  intend- 
ed to  be  the  wife  of  Isaac  ;  and  having  with  joy 
and  gratitude  lifted  up  his  heart  to  the  Giver  of 
his  mercies,  who  had  hitherto  prospered  him,  he 
proceeded  towards  the  house  of  Bethuel,  the  dam- 
sel's father.  How  unUke  the  conduct  of  EUezer 
to  that  of  many  persons,  who  can  receive  un- 
numbered mercies  at  theh;Mids  of  Jehovah  with- 
out a  single  expression,  or  indeed  a  single  feeling 
of  gratitude  to  him.  Such  persons  give  awful 
proof  that  they  are  far  from  God,  and  that  he  "  is 
not  in  all  their  thoughts." 

Rebekah,  fillf'd  with  joy  and  surprise  at  an  in- 
terview so  singular,  had  ran  forward,  and  told  the 
family  the  particulars  of  her  meeting  with  the 
stranger  ;  this  induced  her  brother  Laban,  on 
whomappearsto  have  devolved  much  of  the  man- 
agement of  the  family  affairs,  probably  through 
the  infirmities,  or  perhaps  death  of  the  aged  fath- 
er, to  run  to  meet  him,  and  to  offer  him  a  hearty 
welcome  to  their  house.  When  he  had  entered, 
all  were  anxious  to  perform  the  kindest  offices  ; 
being  influenced,  possibly,  not  only  by  feelings  of 
respect  to  the  stranger,  or  by  the  laws  of  hospi- 
tality, but  by  the  hope  of  sharing  his  riches,  as 
Rebekah  had  done  before  them. 

Arrived  at  the  house  of  Bethuel,  they  placed 


00  THE    PATRIARCHAL    WEDDING. 

before  Eliezer  the  food  he  required  to  recruit  his 
strength.  But  the  good  man  was  too  sensible  of 
the  importance  of  his  errand,  too  much  filled  with 
astonishment  at  the  movements  of  Divine  Pro- 
vidence, and,  probably,  too  desirous  to  gratify  the 
curiosity  he  had  excited  in  their  bosoms,  to  eat  or 
drink,  till  he  had  told  them  his  business.  And  in 
what  a  simple  and  yet  eloquent  manner  does  he 
deliver  his  tale  !  He  tells  them  his  own  station 
as  "Abraham's  servant,"  but  does  not  once  hint 
at  the  office  he  filled  as  his  steward,  or  the  confi- 
dence his  master  reposed  in  him.  He  informs 
them  how  God  has  blessed  his  master,  and  made 
him  rich  ; — that  he  has  a  beloved  son  by  his  fa- 
vourite Sarah,  yet  unmarried,  but  for  whom  he 
is  anxious  to  obtain  a  suitable  wife;  and  that  for 
the  purpose  of  seeking  such  an  one,  he  has  now- 
left  home.  In  a  strain  of  simple  piety,  he  relates  his 
prayer  and  its  accomplishment  at  the  well,  states 
his  conviction  that  Rebekah  is  the  woman  desiofn- 
ed  by  Jehovah  for  Isaac's  companion,  and  asks 
them  for  their  reply  to  his  statement  and  request. 
How  straightforward  and  honest  is  all  this  !  and 
who  can  forebear  regretting  that  this  simplicity 
does  not  now  distinguish  our  conduct,  and  pre- 
vail in  the  ranks  of  fashionable  society  ?  "  How 
sweet,"  remarks  Mr.  Fuller,  "  would  all  our  tem- 
poral affairs  be  rendered,  if  they  were  thus  inter- 


THE    PATRIARCHAL    ATEDDING.  91 

mixed  with  godliness."  Instead  of  this,  luxury 
and  sin  have  introduced  refinements  which  put 
moraUty  and  nature  to  the  blush. 

To  a  statement  like  that  of  Eliezer,  but  one  re- 
ply could  be  given, — "  The  hand  of  the  Lord  is 
in  it.'''  The  whole  family  saw  that  Isaac  and  his 
father  were  not  influenced  by  worldly  policy,  but 
concerned  to  follow  the  leadings  of  infinite  wis- 
dom in  a  concern  of  so  much  moment ;  and  if 
true  piety  existed  among  them  at  all,  they  would 
rejoice  in  the  good  providence  of  God  in  selecting 
for  Rebekah  such  a  husband,  and  placing  her  in  a 
family  where  she  would  be  free  from  temptations 
to  idolatry.  They  consented  to  the  union  ;  and 
the  pious  servant  again  worshipped  Jehovah, 
who  had  granted  his  desires  and  prospered  his 
journey] 

The  business  being  so  far  settled,  Eliezer  ate 
and  drank,  and  distributed  presents  to  the  whole 
family,  who  indulged  in  the  cheerfulness  suita- 
ble to  the  occasion.  Rising  on  the  following 
morning,  the  faithhil  servant  requested  that  they 
might  depart.  Having  fulfilled  the  object  of  his 
journe^^,  he  was  unwilling  to  waste  even  a  day, 
but  to  return  to  the  business  that  needed  his  at- 
tention at  home.  But  here  the  family  found 
themselves  involved  in  a  considerable  difficulty. 
Rebekah  had  never  been  from  home ;  she  had  a 


92  THE    PATRIARCHAL    WEDDING. 

warm  place  in  their  affections,  and  they  could  not 
bear  the  idea  of  parting  with  her  ;  they  wished 
therefore  to  prevent  her,  for  a  season,  from  going. 
But  Ehezer,  seeing  the  Lord  had  prospered  him, 
aware  that  a  separation  would  never  be  less  pain- 
ful, and  unwilling  to  withhold  the  news  of  his 
success  from  his  master  an  hour  longer  than  was 
necessary,  would  not  delay  their  departure.  At 
length  the  question  was  wisely  referred  for  deci- 
sion to  Rebekah  ;  who,  recognising  the  hand  of 
God  in  the  whole  affair,  and  anxious  to  see  those 
of  whom  she  had  heard  so  much,  as  well  as  look- 
ing forward,  no  doubt,  in  the  expectation  of  hap- 
piness, said,  without  hesitation,  "  I  will  go."  An 
affectionate  parting,  attended  ^vith  mutual  prayers 
and  good  wishes,  took  place,  and  Rebekah,  throw- 
ing herself  on  the  care  of  Providence,  set  out  on 
her  journey  to  the  land  of  Canaan. 

Isaac  was  a  man  eminently  devoted  to  God  ; 
he  loved  to  trace  his  liand  in  his  works.  On  one 
evening  durino^  the  absence  of  Eliezer,  he  walked 
out  in  the  fields.  Perhnps  he  went  to  contem- 
plate the  beauties  of  creation,  and  to  rise  from 
them  to  the  Bein^:  u  ho  made  lliem  ;  perhaps  he 
was  desirous,  apart  from  society,  to  hold  inter- 
course with  his  God  and  Father,  or  perhaps  he 
wished  seriously  to  reflect  on  the  responsibility 
and  the  duties  that  would  devolve  on  him  when 


THE  PATRIARCHAL    WEDDING.  93 

he  entered  into  the  connexion  to  which  he  was 
looking  forward  ;  nor  is  it  improbable  that  he 
might  indulge  some  hopes  of  seeing  the  return  of 
a  party  in  whose  business  he  was  so  deeply  inter- 
ested. While  thus  walking,  the  eye  of  Rebekuh 
caught  the  sight  of  Isaac  ;  and  when  on  inquiry 
she  found  who  he  was,  she  alighted  from  her 
camel,  and  covered  herself  with  a  veil  ;  and  in 
this  manner,  expressive  of  her  modesty  and  sub- 
jection, she  was  introduced  to  Isaac.  The  good 
man  having  heard  from  his  servant  the  whole 
narrative  of  events,  saw  the  kind  hand  of  Jehovah 
in  the  whole  arrangement,  and  took  Rebekah  for 
his  wife.  She  enjoyed  his  undivided  affection 
till  death  separated  them,  for  he  never  stained  his 
hfe  by  indulging  in  the  sin  of  polygamy. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  in  this  narrative, 
as  well  as  in  the  other  instances  of  marriage  re- 
corded in  the  inspired  volume,  no  mention  is  made 
of  the  observance  of  any  religious  ceremony. 
They  neither  went  up  to  the  temple,  offered  a  sa- 
crifice, or  had  the  presence  of  a  priest.  Marriage 
with  them  was  regarded  as  a  civil  contract ;  but  we 
cannot  suppose  that  on  so  important  an  occasion 
as  this  they  would  neglect  the  important  duty  of 
praying  for  the  blessing  of  Him  who  can  alone 
make  his  creatures  happy. 

We  have  seen  the  simple  manner  in  which 
9 


94  THE    PATRIARCHAL    WEDDING. 

the  conjugal  state  was  entered  upon  in  the  primi- 
tive ages  ;  and  we  must  rejoice,  that  as  Isaac  and 
Rebekah  were  thus  clearly  brought  together  by 
the  hand  of  God,  so  he  continued  through  life  to 
bless  them,  and  to  crown  their  union  with  a  larg- 
er portion  of  happiness  than  usually  falls  to  the 
lot  of  mortals. 

Let  us  learn  from  the  whole  to  watch  the  lead- 
ings of  Divine  Providence  in  all  our  ways,  and 
never  to  seem  to  run  before  it.  In  all  our  cir- 
cumstances let  us  commend  our  affairs  to  God 
by  fervent  prayer,  and  then  expect  his  gracious 
answer  to  our  requests.  Before  young  persons 
enter  on  a  state  so  momentous  as  that  of  mar- 
riage, let  them  consult  the  wise  and  the  good, 
whose  greater  knowledge  of  the  world,  and  ex- 
perience, qualify  them  to  give  counsel.  And  in 
all  things  let  us  seek  "  the  wisdom  that  cometh 
from  above,"  remembering  that  interesting  com- 
mand and  promise  of  holy  writ,  "  In  all  thy  ways 
acknowledge  him,  and  he  shall  direct  thy  paths." 


THE   DUTIFUL   SON  . 

GEN.    XXXVU. L. 

Joseph  !  '  my  Son ! — Thou  God  of  heaven! 

Restore  the  prop  of  sinking  age  ! 
Or,  if  that  hope  no  more  is  giv'n, 

O,  yield  his  murderer  to  my  rage.' 

Among  the  innumerable  illustrations  of  the  Di^ 
vine  goodness  with  which  we  are  furnished  by 
his  works  of  creation  and  providence,  there  are 
few  more  interesting,  or  that  contribute  more  to 
the  happiness  of  man,  than  the  institution  of  so- 
ciety. Were  every  man  to  be  left  to  himself,  he 
could  not  possibly  be  so  happy  as  he  now  is. 
Our  Creator  has,  therefore,  implanted  in  our 
hearts  affections  of  a  sympathetic  kind,  which 
lead  us  to  feel  a  lively  interest  in  the  \Arelfare  of 
others ;  and  this  anxiety  exists,  or  ought  to  do 
so,  in  proportion  as  they  are  nearly  or  more  re- 
motely allied  to  us  in  nature.  Hence,  the  pa- 
rent and  the  child,  with  a  solicitude  that  knows  nq 


96  THE    DUTIFUL    SON. 

bounds,  seek  each  other's  enjoyment;  and  those 
of  the  same  family  mutually  share  their  sorrows 
and  their  joys,  lightening  the  burden  of  the  one, 
and  adding  greatly  to  the  reUsh  of  the  other. 

In  consequence,  however,  of  the  disobedience 
of  man  to  the  commands  of  God,  which  has* 
thrown  the  universe  into  disorder,  and  pervert- 
ed the  passions  of  our  nature,  we  are  sometimes 
compelled  to  mourn  over  improper  feelings  shewn 
by  the  different  branches  of  families,  creating:  do- 
mestic feuds,  and  tending  to  destroy  the  affec- 
tionate regard  which  ought  to  display  itself  in 
every  movement.  And,  surely,  no  scene  can  be 
more  unlovely  than  that  of  discord  and  animosity 
reigning  where  harmony  and  love  ought  to  have 
an  undisputed  dominion.  But  over  such  scenes 
we  have  often  wept,  while  we  have  been  desir- 
ous for  the  spread  of  Divine  truth,  which  can 
alone  subdue  the  improper  feelings  of  man,  and 
attune,  in  sweetest  harmony,  the  kind  and  ten- 
der sensibilities  of  the  soul — which  shall  make 
the  lion  and  the  lamb  lie  down  together,  and  in- 
fuse the  mild  and  gentle  spirit  of  the  child  into 
every  bosom.  Such  blessings  the  gospel  can 
impart,  and  over  such  scenes  the  whole  world 
shall  ultimately  rejoice. 

Scarcely  any  part  of  the  inspired  volume  has 
been  read  with  so  much  interest  as  the  history  of 


THE    DUTIFUL    SON.  97 

Joseph.  It  is  a  moral  pain  tin  2:,  on  which  the 
man  of  taste  and  the  ignorant  rustic  may  gaze  with 
equal  admiration — a  narrative  which  displays 
human  nature  in  its  best  and  its  worst  dress; 
and  that  shews  the  grace  of  God  influencing  the 
heart,  and  teaching  it  how  to  act  in  circimistan- 
ces  the  most  trying  ; — a  history  which  striking- 
ly illustrates  the  providence  of  God,  as  guiding 
all  human  affairs  to  promote  the  happiness  of  his 
people — exhibits  him  as  allowing  the  wicked  to 
prosper  for  a  time  in  their  designs,  wiiile  it  de- 
monstrates the  infinite  importance  of  being  num- 
bered with  those  who  enjoy  the  Divine  favour. 
It  is  a  relation  of  events  to  which  the  child  hs- 
tens  with  wonder,  and  on  which  he  may  dwell 
with  increasinor  admiration  even  to  old  ao^e. 

Many  attempts  h-.^ve  been  made,  in  different 
ages  and  nations,  to  illustrate  the  principal  events 
contained  in  the  narrative,  and  to  exhibit  its  most 
striking  beauties.  But  we  may  almost  as  well 
attempt  to  add  new  glories  to  the  sun,  or  to  clothe 
nature  in  a  more  lovoly  green,  as  to  make  the 
tale  more  interesting  than  it  appears  in  the  art- 
less language  of  the  inspired  writer.  Time,  who 
robs  language  of  its  excellence  by  the  improve- 
ments he  confers  on  science,  has  not  stolen  one  of 
its  beauties,  but  left  it  to  impress  our  minds  with 
all  its  native  grandeur.  Hence,  every  such  at- 
9* 


98  THE    DUTIFUL    SON. 

tempt  has  failed,  and  it  continues  to  bid  defi- 
ance to  man,  however  gifted  and  learned,  to  pro- 
duce a  story  that  shall  so  closely  entwine  around 
every  heart. 

My  reader  will  begin  to  suspect  that  I  am 
about  to  act  inconsistently  with  these  sentiments, 
in  attempting  an  illustration  of  the  history.  Let 
me  beg,  then,  to  declare  in  the  outsef,  that  I  dis- 
claim all  idea  of  adding  fresh  beauty  to  the  story, 
or  of  deepening  the  interest  which  a  careful  pe- 
rusal of  it  in  the  sacred  volume  would  excite. 
Its  excellences  appear  to  every  eye,  and  its  les- 
sons are  offered  to  every  understanding.  The  ob- 
ject I  have  in  view,  is  merely  to  divide  the  story 
into  parcels  ; — to  exhibit  the  character  of  Joseph 
in  several  points  of  view,  and  to  hold  him  up  as 
an  example  to  different  classes  of  persons.  And 
should  any  one,  by  reading  the  remarks  I  have 
to  offer  on  his  character,  be  inclined  to  discharge 
the  duties  he  owes  to  his  family  and  society  in  a 
way  more  accordant  with  the  commands  of  God, 
and  the  example  of  this  amiable  individual,  I 
shall  consider  myself  amply  repaid. 

It  is  impossible  to  reflect  on  the  character  of 
Joseph  in  the  view  in  which  I  would  now  intro- 
duce him — as  the  Dutiful  Son^  without  think- 
ing of  the  affecting  circumstances  in  which  he 
was  placed,  even  in  early  life.     He  was  the  son 


THE    DUTIFUL    SON-  99 

of  the  beloved  Rachel,  the  distinguished  favour- 
ite, and  the  only  proper  wife  of  his  father.  In 
early  childhood  he  was  deprived  of  all  the  ten- 
der anxieties,  and  all  the  unspeakable  advantages 
of  her  maternal  care.  He  was,  it  is  true,  the  fa- 
vourite of  his  flitlier  ;  but,  alas  !  he  was  also  ex- 
posed to  the  envy  of  his  brethren,  and  to  the 
snares  of  a  wicked  world ;  he  was  destitute  of 
the  affectionate  counsels  of  a  mother,  whose  so- 
licitude frequently  preserves  the  young  from 
evils  from  which  even  the  stronger  arm  and  the 
greater  authority  of  a  father  cannot  save  them. 

Jacob,  though  an  affectionate  parent,  and  con- 
cerned for  the  happiness  of  all  his  children,  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  eminently  distinguish- 
ed for  his  prudence.  As  Joseph  was  the  son  of 
his  old  age,  being  born  when  he  was  upwards  of 
ninety  years  old,  and  the  child  of  his  beloved 
Rachel — possessed  too  of  an  amiable  temper  and 
of  ardent  piety — and,  as  his  years  increased,  fur- 
nished constant  and  new  proofs  of  the  highest 
excellence,  Jacob  marked  the  favourite  son  by 
clothino:  him  with  a  g^arment  different  in  its  co- 
lours,  and  probably  in  its  form,  from  those  of  his 
brethren.  It  is  true,  the  good  conduct  of  Joseph 
might  deserve  this,  but  the  worthy  old  man 
should  have  seen  the  impropriety  of  thus  plac- 
ing him  in  danger  of  the  envy  of  his  brethren, 


100  THE    DUTIFUL    SON. 

and  exciting  in  his  own  bosom  feelings  exceed- 
ingly unfavourable  to  his  humility.  In  the  ma- 
nao^ement  of  our  children,  we  should  consult  our 
judgment  much  more  than  our  affections. 

As  Joseph  seems  but  seldom  to  have  left  his 
fond  father,  to  mingle  with  the  world,  we  are  not 
surprised  at  his  indulgence  of  a  childish  simpli- 
city, and  of  his  want  of  that  prudence  which  ex- 
perience alone  can  impart.  His  pious  soul  griev- 
edover  his  brethren's  improprieties  ;  and,  perhaps 
somewhat  imprudently,  he  told  them  to  his  fa- 
ther;— the  openness  of  his  disposition  led  him  to 
divulge  before  these  brethren  some  dreams  he 
had  dreamt,  which  seemed  to  promise  his  future 
exaltation  and  honour,  which  only  tended  to  ex- 
cite their  envy.  His  father,  though  he  rebuked 
him,  lest  he  should  indulge  in  pride,  yet  "ob- 
served the  saying  ;"  he  saw  something  of  its  pro- 
bable meaning;  and,  no  doubt,  would  love 
Joseph  so  much  the  better  on  account  of  what 
he  believed  God  would  do  for  him. 

Whatever  ideas  this  lovely  youth  might  be  led 
to  entertain  of  future  greatness,  they  did  not  pre- 
vent the  discharge  of  the  duties  which  his  father 
required  of  him.  His  brethren  were  employed 
in  tending  their  flocks  at  Shechem,  now  called 
Naplouse^  a  distance  of  about  sixty  miles  from 
the  residence  of  Jacob,  who,  both  because  he 


THE    DUTIFUL    SON.  101 

possessed  all  the  anxieties  of  a  parent,  and  knew 
they  were  exposed  to  danglers  from  the  men  of 
Shechem,  whom,  on  a  former  occasion,  they  had 
grievously  offended,  requested  Joseph  to  pay 
them  a  visit  and  inquire  after  their  welfare. 
Ever  ready  to  obey  the  wishes  of  his  father,  he 
hastened  to  the  place,  and  not  finding  them  there, 
he  went  on  to  Dothan,  a  distance  of  eight  miles 
farther.  Thus  did  he  manifest  at  once  his  affec- 
tion towards  his  brethren,  and  his  regard  to  his 
father's  commands.  With  what  anxious  solici- 
tude would  Jacob  seem  to  follow  his  son,  and 
how  desirous  would  he  be  for  the  return  of  one 
in  whose  happiness  he  felt  so  deeply  interested, 
and  whose  conversation  gave  him  so  much  plea- 
sure. 

It  often  happens  that  when  we  estimate  our 
mercies  too  highly,  and  place  them  in  the  stead 
of  iheir  Giver,  they  are  removed  from  us  till  we 
are  effectually  taught  our  dependence  upon  God. 
Thus  was  it  in  the  case  of  Joseph.  His  father  had 
manifested  towards  him  an  undue  partiality  ; 
this  at  once  called  forth  the  malevolent  feelings 
of  his  brethren  and  the  displeasure  of  the  blessed 
God  ;  who  to  chastise  his  servant  for  his  impro- 
priety, and  to  accomplish  the  future  designs  of 
his  mercy  towards  the  fiunily,  allowed  his  breth- 


1U2  THK    DUTIFUL    SON. 

ren  to  gratify  their  wicked  dispositions  by  selling 
him  as  a  slave  into  Egypt. 

When  a  representation  was  made  to  good  old 
Jacob,  which  induced  him  to  believe  that  Joseph 
had  been  torn  in  pieces  by  wild  beasts,  with  what 
grief  would  he  contemplate  the  death  of  such  a 
son  !  Little  did  he  imagine  that  he  was  yet 
alive,  and  a  slave  in  a  strange  land !  And  as 
little  did  he  suppose  that  the  prayers  of  his  be- 
loved son  ascended  from  day  to  day  on  his  behalf, 
to  the  throne  of  Divine  mercy  !  Never  once  did 
he  tliink  that  more  than  twenty  years  hence  he 
should  see  his  beloved  Joseph  in  the  tleshj  and 
again  hold  the  most  delightful  intercourse  with 
him.  How  is  the  future  hid  from  our  view  1  and 
how  ignorant  are  we  of 

"  What  gloomy  linos  are  writ  for  us, 
Or  what  bright  scenes  may  rise." 

It  appears  to  us  very  extraordinary  that  Joseph, 
who  entertained  towards  his  father  sucli  an  affec- 
tionate regard,  should  remain  twenty  years  in 
Egypt  without  sending  to  make  inquiry  after 
him.  But  there  are  some  things,  which,  if  consi- 
dered, will  tend  to  remove  our  surprise.  Let  it 
then  be  remembered,  that  in  those  early  days 
there  were  but  few  opportuuities  afforded  for 
communication  between  one  country  and  ano- 
ther.    Years  might  revolve,  and  Joseph  might 


THE    DUTIFUL    SON.  103 

not  know  of  a  single  person  going  to  Canaan  ; 
besides   which,  he  was  for  many  years  a  slave. 
and  after  that  a  prisoner,  and  he  might  rather 
wish  to  suffer  what  he  did,   and  be  considered 
dead,  than  send  intelligence  which  must  reflect 
severely  on  his  brethren,  and  rob  his  father   of 
happiness.     It   is  true   that  he  was,  after  this, 
elevated  to  high  dignity  in  the  government  of 
Egypt,    and  we  might  have  supposed  that  he 
would  have  been  desirous  to  inform  his  father  of 
so  gratifying  a  circumstance ;  but  we  must  re- 
member that  even  this  could  not  be  done  without 
blame  resting  on  those  by  whose  means  he  was 
sent  from  home  ;  and,  in  addition  to  all  that  has 
been  said,  we  must  consider  his  movements  to 
have  been  under  the  direction  of  a  wise  and  gra- 
cious Being,   who  saw  fit  to  carry  on  his  plans 
without  the  knowledge  of  Jacob.     It  is  impossi- 
ble to  view  the  conduct  of  Joseph  towards  his  fa- 
ther, both  in  his  early  life  and  in  after-days,  and 
suppose  that  this  omission  sprung  from  indiffer- 
ence, or  the  want  of  affection  towards  his  vener- 
able parent. 

At  length  the  period  arrived  when  Joseph 
should  see  most  of  his  brethren,  hear  of  the 
welfare  of  his  father,  and  see  events  which, 
governed  by  the  hand  of  God,  should  ultimately 
bring  them    together.      Famine,    the    scourge 


104  THE    DUTIFUL    SON. 

which  so  often  visited  the  world  in  its  early  ageSj 
overspread  tiie  land  of  Canaan  ;  and  it  became 
necessary  that  a  supply  of  corn  should  be  obtain* 
ed  from  Egypt  for  the  support  of  Jacob  and  his 
family.  The  venerable  man  commanded  his 
ten  eldest  sons  to  go  down  to  that  country,  with 
money  in  their  hands,  and  buy  what  they  so 
much  needed.  Who  could  have  imagined  the 
scenes  that  were  to  be  exhibited  before  they  re- 
turned ?  Not  one  of  them  expected  that  Joseph 
was  alive,  much  less  that  he  was  the  governor  of 
Egypt ; — they  imagined  not  that  they  were  going 
to  pay  homage  to  him ;  that  they  would  be  treat- 
ed as  spies,  and  involved  in  difficulty  ;  or  that  the 
sin  which  twenty  years  ago  they  had  commit- 
ted against  their  amiable  brother,  would  now  be 
brought  before  them,  in  all  its  horror,  by  their 
terrified  consciences. 

Arrived  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  they  had  to 
make  tfieir  appearance  before  its  governor.  It  is 
probable  that  foreigners  had  to  contract  with  him 
in  person,  as  by  this  means  he  could  most  effec- 
tually learn  the  condition  of  the  countries  in 
which  they  resided  ;  besides  which  he  might  hope 
that  in  this  way  he  should  at  some  time  or  other 
have  an  interview  with  his  brethren.  No  sooner 
did  they  enter  his  presence  than  he  recognised  in 
their  countenances  the  family  features  :  they  did 


THE    DUTIFUL    SON.  105 

not  imagine  that,  bowing  to  the  governor  of  Egypt, 
they  were  fulfilling  the  dream  of  their  brother  ; 
but  he  could  not  fail  to  be  impressed  with  the  fact. 
They  had  no  knowledge  of  him,  for  twenty  years 
had  made  a  considerable  alteration  in  his  person  ; 
he  spoke  the  language  of  Egypt,  and  was  sur- 
rounded with  the  pomp  of  a  court ;  it  was  there- 
fore no  wonder,  that,  notwithstanding  all  the  ex- 
traordinary circumstaaces  which  subsequently 
occurred,  they  did  not  know  him.  He  charged 
them  with  being  spies,  and  detained  them,  evi- 
dently with  the  view  of  eliciting  from  them  all 
the  information  he  could  obtain  m  reference  to 
his  father,  Benjamin,  and  the  whole  family.  He, 
notwithstanding  his  apparent  harshness,  shews 
kindness  to  them,  and  while  he  furnishes  them 
with  provisions  for  their  future  necessities,  orders 
their  money  to  be  again  placed  in  their  sacks. 

It  is  true  that,  by  detaining  Simeon  in  bonds, 
and  demandmg  a  sight  of  Benjamin  before  he 
would  release  him  or  grant  them  a  future  sup- 
ply of  corn,  he  is  adding  to  the  sorrow  of  his  fa- 
ther ;  but  for  this,  as  we  shall  see  hereafter,  he 
had  important  reasons.  At  the  same  time,  a  fine 
opportunity  was  afforded  to  the  venerable  patri- 
arch, to  exercise  resignation  to  the  painful  dis- 
pensations of  Providence,  and  a  foundation  was 
being  laid  for  his  future  happiness  and  gratitude. 
10 


106  THE    DUTIFUL   SON. 

After  the  expiration  of  a  few  months,  it  be- 
came necessary  for  the  sons  of  Jacob  again  to  go 
down  to  Egypt  to  purchase  food.  It  is  affecting 
to  see  the  anxiety  the  worthy  old  man  feels  at  the 
idea  of  parting  with  his  beloved  Benjamin  ;  and 
impossible  not  to  admire  his  piety  and  resigna- 
tion as  he  consents  to  his  journey :  "And  God 
Almighty  give  you  mercy  before  the  man,  that  he 
may  send  away  your  other  brother,  and  Benja- 
min ;  if  I  am  bereaved  of  my  children,  I  am  be- 
reaved !"  We  see  them  hastening  to  Egypt ; 
they  travel  with  sentiments  of  pleasure,  not  sup- 
posing events  will  occur  before  their  return 
which  shall  fill  them  with  the  deepest  anxiety, 
and  ultimately  afford  them  the  highest  happi- 
ness. 

It  is  exceedingly  interesting  to  be  present,  in 
imagination,  at  the  affecting  interview  which  took 
place,  when  the  sons  of  Jacob  were  presented,  with 
their  gifts,  to  the  governor  of  Egypt.  "  And  he 
asked  them  of  their  welfare,  and  said,  Is  your  fa- 
ther well  ? — the  old  man  of  whom  ye  spake,  is 
he  yet  alive?"  And  they  answered,  "  Thy  ser- 
vant our  father  is  in  good  health  ;  he  is  yet 
alive."  This  was  what  .Joseph  wanted  to  know, 
and  the  information  gave  him  a  pleasure  of  which 
they  could  at  present  form  no  idea. 

When  Judah,  under  the  persuasion  that  the 


THE    DUTIFUL    SON.  107 

governor  entertained  an  opinion  of  them  unfa- 
vourable to  their  honesty,  delivered  an  oration, 
with  a  view  of  saving  Benjamin  from  prison, 
which  touched  every  fine  feeling  of  the  soul,  and 
which  has  been  the  admiration  of  every  age,  with 
what  feelings  must  Joseph  listen  !  As  he  spoke 
of  the  grief  that  the  absence  of  Benjamin  must 
give  to  the  good  old  man  his  father,  how  must 
it  harrow  up  the  sensibilities  of  Joseph,  and  lead 
him  to  rejoice  that  his  father  now  possessed  the 
love  of  his  children  ! 

We  must  not  at  present  describe  the  scene  that 
exhibited  itself  when  Joseph  made  himself  known 
to  his  brethren,  excepting  so  far  as  it  relates  to 
the  inquiry,  "  Doth  my  father  yet  live  ?"  The 
fact  he  knew  before ;  but  the  question  includes 
in  it  feelings  of  love,  of  thankfulness,  and  of  so- 
licitude for  his  happiness,  that  could  not  be  so 
well  expressed  in  any  other  words,  at  least  not 
in  so  short  a  sentence. 

When  the  anxiety  and  confusion  necessarily 
attendant  on  the  discovery  of  himself  to  his  bre- 
thren is  over,  how  affectionate  is  the  message  he 
sends  to  his  father  !  Having  been  absent  from 
him  more  than  twenty  years,  we  cannot  be  sur- 
prised at  his  wishing  to  see  him.  Nor  will  it  be 
enough  for  him  merely  to  pay  a  visit  to  his  son ; 
but  he  must  take  up  his  residence  in  Egypt. 


108  THE    DUTIFUL    SON. 

Though  the  providence  of  God  has  exalted  Jo- 
seph, he  is  not  ashamed  of  his  father,  nor  back- 
ward to  acknowledgehim,  even  though  he  be  but 
a  shepherd,  and  therefore  held  by  the  Egyptians 
in  contempt. 

How  many  instances  has  the  pen  of  history  re- 
corded in  which  young  persons,  when  they  have 
risen  in  society,  have  allowed  their  parents  still  to 
struggle  in  adversity,  and  even  permitted  them 
to  depend  upon  the  bestowments  of  charity  for 
their  bread.  How  ungrateful  the  conduct  of 
such  children  !  How  do  they  expose  them- 
selves to  the  frown  of  Jehovah,  and  the  dises- 
teem  of  the  good  ;  while  in  many  cases  their  con- 
duct to  their  parents  lays  the  foundation  of  their 
own  ruin.  Filial  aifection  reigns  in  the  heart  of 
Joseph,  and  he  will  provide  for  liis  father  the  ne- 
cessaries of  life,  as  long  as  he  may  be  spared  a 
sojourner  on  earth.  Such  an  example  is  every 
way  worthy  of  the  imitation  of  my  juvenile  read- 
ers. "  Honour  thy  father,  and  they  mother,  for 
this  is  the  first  commandment  with  promise." 

What  must  have  been  the  feelino;s  of  the  ve- 
nerable Jacob  when  he  found  that  his  son  Joseph 
was  yet  alive  !  No  wonder  that  it  overpowered 
him,  and  that  he  fainted  at  the  intelligence. 
With  what  pleasure  did  he  prepare  for  his  jour- 
ney to  go  down  and  see  him,  and  what  would  be 


THE    DUTIFUL    SON.  109 

bis  gratitude,  when  he  found  that  such  a  determi- 
nation was  in  perfect  accordance  with  the  will 
of  God  !  And  what  a  meeting  did  they  have  ! 
Who  can  contemplate  it  without  a  tear  ?  "  And 
Joseph  made  ready  his  chariot,  and  went  up  to 
meet  Israel  his  father  to  Goshen,  and  presented 
himself  unto  him,  and  he  fell  on  his  neck,  and 
wept  on  his  neck  a  good  while.  And  Israel  said 
unto  Joseph,  Now  let  me  die,  since  I  have  seen 
thy  face,  because  thou  art  yet  alive." 

The  affection  which  Joseph  shewed  to  his  fa- 
ther on  this  occasion  was  not  a  sudden  ebullition 
of  feeling,  that  soon  evaporated.  It  continued, 
and  led  him  to  make  a  permanent  provision  for 
the  comfort  of  his  aged  parent  for  the  seventeen 
years  he  had  yet  to  live. 

It  is  easy  to  trace  the  partiality  of  Jacob  to- 
wards his  beloved  Joseph,  in  the  oath  he  requir- 
ed of  him  in  preference  to  his  other  sons,  that  he 
should  be  carried  after  death  to  the  land  of  his 
fathers,  as  also  in  the  blessing  he  pronounced  on 
him  and  his  children  on  his  dying  pillow. 

As  the  affection  of  Joseph  towards  his  father 
continued  till  death  called  them  to  separate,  so  it 
led  him  to  weep  in  bitterness  over  his  dead  body. 
He  was  deeply  afflicted  to  lose  one  whose  exam- 
ple, counsel,  and  prayers  had  rendered  him  most- 
essential  service.  That  grief,  however,  would  be 
10* 


110  THE    DUTIFUL    SON. 

moderated  by  the  delightful  expectation  of  meeting 
him  in  a  state  where  separation  shall  be  unknown. 
Having  thus  maintained  the  character  of  a  duti- 
ful son  through  the  life  of  his  father,  Joseph  could 
shew  but  one  farther  proof  of  affection,  and  that 
was  to  bury  the  good  old  man  with  circumstan- 
ces of  honour.  This  was  done  ;  and  some  re- 
marks connected  with  this  deeply  interesting 
event  will  be  found  in  a  subsequent  part  of  this 
volume,  under  the  title  of  "  The  Dying  Patri- 
arch^ 

It  appears  impossible  to  study  the  history  of  Jo- 
seph without  seeing  the  incalculable  value  of  gen- 
uine piety,  especially  to  young  persons.  While 
it  supports  the  mind  under  trials,  it  raises  its  pos- 
sessor in  the  rank  of  moral  worth.  We  see  far- 
ther the  loveliness  of  rendering  due  honour  and 
respect  to  our  parents.  So  much  importance  did 
the  righteous  Governor  of  the  world  attach  to 
this  duty  under  the  Levitical  economy,  as  to  re- 
ward its  observance  with  long  life,  and  to  punish 
those  who  broke  it  with  death  by  stoning.  Let 
young  persons  aspire  after  the  honour  of  belonging 
to  the  family  of  God,  and  then  they  may  look 
forward  to  the  happy  period  when  they  shall 
meet  their  believing  relatives  in  a  state  where 
there  is  neither  sorrow  nor  separation.  Wilt  thou 
not,  my  young  reader,  from  this  time  cry  unto 


THE    DUTIFUL    SON.  Ill 

Jehovah,  My  Father^  thou  art  the  guide  of  my 
youth!  Such  a  surrender  of  the  heart  and  the 
conduct  to  the  government  of  God,  not  merely 
brings  us  into  a  closer  and  indissoluble  union  with 
our  pious  friends,  but  prepares  us  for  all  the  du- 
ties and  the  trials  of  life,  and  ultimately  conducts 
us  to  the  mansions  of  eternal  glory,  where  Jeho- 
vah, as  the  father  of  his  people,  ever  enriches  them 
with  the  choicest  proofs  of  his  unchangeable  re- 
gard. 


THE  AFFECTIONATE  BROTHER. 


GEN.  XXXVII. 


And  is  it  thus  a  brotlier  hails 
A  brother's  fond  remembrance  here  1 
If  thus  aiTectioa's  strength  prevails, 
What  may  we  not  expect  from  fear  '? 

It  is  exceedingly  common  for  us  to  imagine  that 
"  the  former  times  were  better  than  the  present." 
This  feeUng  in  many  cases  arises  from  a  dispo- 
sition to  murmur  against  Divine  Providence,  or 
to  find  matter  of  complaint  against  our  feilow- 
creatures.  But  when  all  needful  allowance  is 
made  for  improper  tendencies  of  this  sort,  it  must 
be  admitted  that  the  earlier  ages  of  time  presented 
scenes  of  a  moral  kind  far  more  lovely  than  we 
can  now  view.  Poets  and  painters  have  invested 
the  circumstances  of  a  country  life  in  colours  so 
iliscinating  and  gay,  that  the  citizen  is  almost 
tempted  to  resign  his  splendour,  his  connexions, 
and  his  luxuries,  to  enter  the  peaceful  cottage, 
away  from  the  bustle  of  the  world,  to  engage  in 
agricultural  labours,  and  to  associate  with  those 


THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER.  113 

whom  he  has  been  led  to  suppose  are  all  inno- 
cence and  simplicity.  But,  alas  !  he  soon  finds 
that  sin  possesses  the  heart  of  the  peasant  as  well 
as  that  of  the  courtier, — that  vice  is  found  alike 
in  the  village  and  the  city, — and  that  the  country, 
with  all  its  charms,  cannot  render  him  happy 
without  the  possession  of  that  divine  "  peace 
which  passeth  all  understanding."  This  will  fill 
us  with  happiness,  reside  where  we  may  ;  and, 
destitute  of  it,  the  palace  will  be  without  happi- 
ness, society  will  impart  no  blessing  on  which 
the  soul  can  feast,  honour  can  give  no  genuine 
satisfaction,  and  the  haunts  of  pleasure  will  af- 
ford no  true  enjoyment. 

In  the  contemplation  of  the  patriarchal  ages, 
we  must  have  observed  that  moral  evil  had  not 
then  risen  to  the  awful  pitch  it  has  now  attained  ; 
for  though  sin  really  existed,  it  did  not  shew 
itself  in  so  many  forms  as  it  does  in  the  present 
day.  The  inhabitants  of  the  world,  as  they  were 
generally  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
that  in  a  country  where  art  had  done  little  to  im- 
prove the  soil,  were  compelled  to  live  in  remote 
stations,  and  seldom  assembled  to  encourage  each 
other  in  the  ways  of  sin  ;  in  addition  to  which, 
idleness  and  luxury,  those  parents  of  a  thousand 
crimes,  were  nearly  unknown,  while  shame 
would  prevent  many  of  the  practices  in  which 
mankind  at  present  too  often  glory. 


114  THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER. 

We  must  not  suppose,  however,  that  even  then 
iniquities  awfully  glaring,  and  cruelties  painful 
to  an  extreme,  were  altogether  unknown.  Vice 
frequently  triumphed,  and  virtue  was  often  per- 
secuted. The  depravity  of  the  heart  burst  all 
bounds,  and,  like  the  tempestuous  sea,  could  not 
be  stopped  in  its  progress  ;  it  refused  attention  to 
the  voice  of  reason,  and  defied  the  restraints  of 
authority,  human  or  Divine.  The  tenderest  feel- 
ings were  violated, — the  most  consummate  hy- 
pocrisy was  practised,  and  all  the  obligations 
which  one  relative  owes  to  another  were  tram- 
pled on.  All  this  will  be  illustrated,  as  we  con- 
sider Joseph  in  the  pleasing  character  of  an  o^ec- 
tionate  brother. 

The  first  time  this  amiable  youth  is  introduced 
to  our  notice  by  the  inspired  writer  is,  as  feeling 
the  tenderest  concern  on  account  of  the  faults 
that  he  saw  committed  by  his  brethren,  and  as 
reporting  them  to  his  venerable  father.  It  must 
not  be  supposed  that  this  was  done  from  feelings 
of  an  improper  kind,  as  though  he  would  ingra- 
tiate himself  into  the  affections  of  his  parent  by 
leading  him  to  indulge  an  unfavourable  opinion 
of  the  rest  of  his  children  ;  he  was  grieved  on  ac- 
count of  their  sins,  and  very  properly  hoped  that 
the  reproofs  and  instructions  they  would  receive 
from  their  wise  and  pious  monitor  would  check 


THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER.  115 

the  evils  which  he  had  attempted  in  vain  to  pre- 
vent. This  conduct,  however,  while  it  raised 
him  in  the  estimation  of  his  father,  provoked  the 
enmity  of  his  brethren,  who  from  this  time,  such 
was  tlieir  rage,  "  could  not  speak  peaceably  to 
him." 

It  is  one  of  the  awful  effects  of  the  depravity 
of  man,  that  the  simplicity  and  frankness  which 
form  a  part  of  the  disposition  of  many  amiable 
persons,  and  which  ought  to  recommend  them  to 
others,  frequently  operate  to  their  disadvantage. 
Joseph  had  one  dream  after  another  which  seem- 
ed to  intimate  that  he  should  rise  in  society  above 
his  brethren.  With  all  possible  openness  and 
artlessness  he  communicated  them  to  his  brethren, 
who  at  once  saw  their  meaning,  and  probably 
imagined  that  he  even  now  wished  to  assume 
authority  over  them.  If,  indeed,  as  is  not  impro- 
bable, Joseph  related  his  dreams  with  a  view  of 
conciliating  their  good  will,  he  was  disappointed 
in  his  expectations,  and  soon  found  that  he  had 
so  increased  their  malice  and  hatred,  that  they 
would  henceforth  thirst  for  his  blood. 

However  the  anger  of  his  brethren  was  excited 
against  him,  Joseph  knew  that  he  could  not  be 
excused  from  the  discharge  of  the  duties  that  he 
owed  to  them.  He  felt  all  the  affection  that  is 
due  from  one  branch  of  a  family  to  another,  and 


116  THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER. 

when  his  brethren  had  been  absent  for  many 
weeks,  feeding  their  flocks  at  a  distance  of  more 
than  sixty  miles  from  home,  with  what  readiness 
did  he  attend  to  his  father's  request  to  visit  them  ! 
He  knew  they  were  exposed  to  danger  in  a 
neighbourhood  where  some  of  them  had  com- 
mitted a  daring  outrage,  and  was  assured  that  of 
such  danger — as  he  went  alone  and  unprotected 
— he  would  experience  a  full  share.  He  had  not 
forgotten  that  his  brethren  had  been  sorely  dis- 
pleased wilh  him,  but  he  hoped  that  the  time 
which  had  elapsed  since  they  saw  each  other  had 
destroyed  their  animosity,  and  that  they  should 
meet  in  peace  ;  and  with  this  disposition  he  set 
out  on  his  journey.  Those  who  experience  cor- 
rect and  peaceable  feelings  themselves,  are  too 
apt,  for  their  own  safety,  to  give  others  credit 
for  better  views  and  dispositions  than  they  really 
have. 

We  see  then  the  young  man  on  his  errand  of 
benevolence.  Little  does  he  suppose,  that  as  soon 
as  his  brethren  see  him,  they  will  begin  to  plot 
his  murder  !  They  must  surely  have  been  ac- 
customed to  deeds  of  blood,  or  they  would  not 
have  talked  thus,  and  that  in  reference  to  a  bro- 
ther !  When  he  arrives  where  they  are,  he  sa- 
lutes them  in  terms  of  peace  ;  but  they  treat  him 
first  in  a  surly  and  morose  manner,  and  then  pro- 


THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER.  117 

tieed  to  acts  of  violence.  They  strip  him  of  his 
coat  of  many  colours,  in  which  the  partiality  of 
his  father  had  clothed  him ;  and,  in  language 
not  at  all  reserved,  they  describe  to  him  the  treat- 
ment he  has  to  expect. 

It  is  by  no  means  difficult  to  see  that,  in  their 
conduct  towards  him,  the  brethren  of  Joseph  were 
actuated  by  the  principle  of  envy.  This  diabol- 
ical and  worst  of  all  dispositions  had  long  reign- 
ed in  their  hearts,  and  now  found  an  opportunity 
to  complete  its  wicked  designs.  It  is  true 
that  Joseph  had  given  them  no  just  cause  of 
olTence  :  Abel  had  never  done  Cain  an  injury  ; 
David  had  done  Saul  no  harm  ;  the  Saviour  had 
never  injured  the  rulers  of  Israel  ;  but  all  this 
prevented  not  their  enemies  from  doing  them  inju- 
ries. "Envy,"  says  an  instructive  writer,  "views 
its  object  and  cause  as  good — as  a  source  of  hap- 
piness— as  actually  rendering  a  feilow-creature 
happy,  and,  perhaps,  honourable  and  useful  too. 
At  the  benevolence  which  blesses  its  object,  while 
it  delights  every  well  constituted  mind,  by  the 
effects  which  it  produces,  and  the  scenes  which 
it  exhibits,  envy  repines  and  grieves.  It  is  hurt 
by  the  light,  and  offended  by  the  bounty  of  Hea- 
ven. It  extracts  poison  and  misery  from  excel- 
lence, usefulness,  and  happiness.  Its  eye  is  evil, 
because  God  is  good,  and  its  fellow-creatures  are 
11 


118  THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER. 

blessed.  Wrath  and  anger  have  sometimes  a 
sympathetic  feeling  in  heaven  itself;  that  which 
excites  them  is  censured  by  angels,  and  condemn- 
ed by  God.  The  storms  which  they  raise  on 
earth  to  punish  their  object,  not  unfrequently 
mingle  with  the  tempests  of  Divine  indignation 
from  above  ;  and  the  wrath  of  man,  in  that  in- 
stance at  least,  works  the  righteousness  of  God. 
But  envy  ^vorks  in  opposition  to  every  heavenly 
agent  and  sentiment;  it  is  chagrined  at  that 
which  God  has  bestowed  in  the  exercise  ol  his 
benevolence,  and  at  that  which  angels  contem- 
plate with  heavenly  pleasure." 

That  Divine  Being,  who  has  all  hearts  in  his 
hands,  saw  the  movements  and  knew  the  desigfns 
of  this  guilty  party,  and  interposed  in  behalf  of  his 
servant.  The  feelings  of  nature  will  sometimes 
work,  even  in  the  hearts  of  the  cruel.  Reuben, 
influenced  by  humanity  and  the  fear  of  his  Oth- 
er's anger,  and  Judah,  by  covetousness,  united  in 
opposing  his  being  slain,  and  eventually  it  was  re- 
solved that  such  a  crime  should  not  be  committed, 
but  that  their  brother  should  be  sold  as  a  slave 
into  Egypt. 

Next  to  the  sin  of  murder,  it  is  hardly  possi- 
ble to  conceive  of  a  crime  greater  than  that  of 
dealing  m  the  persons  and  liberties  of  our  fellow- 
men.     Slavery  is  a  state  abhorrent  to  every  man 


THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER.  119 

who  has  a  just  sense  of  the  value  of  his  Uberty 
and  his  domestic  comforts.  How,  then,  must  we 
view  the  men  who  can  tear  from  the  bosoms  of 
their  families — from  the  comforts  of  their  homes 
— from  the  land  that  gave  them  birth,  those  who 
possess  the  same  nature  and  feelings  as  them- 
selves, and  who  claim  relationship  to  them? 
Oh, what  callousness  of  heart  must  such  men  pos- 
sess !  But  many,  very  many  are  there  to  be  found, 
who  even  now  buy  and  sell  those  whom  the 
Creator  regards  as  their  equals,  and  treat  them 
with  a  cruelty  they  would  not  show  to  the  brute 
creation.  Such  was  the  character  of  Joseph's 
brethren,  who  undervalued  his  affection,  despised 
his  entreaties,  and  sold  him  into  slavery.  But 
who  can  tell  the  agony  their  consciences  endured 
on  account  of  their  crime,  even  to  the  end  of 
their  lives  ?  The  inspired  writer  has  handed 
down  their  names  to  us  branded  with  infamy, 
warning  us  against  a  £ifi  <xi  which  all  our  sensi- 
bilities revolt. 

We  shall  almost  invariably  find,  that  those 
who  are  cruel  and  unkind  to  some  branches  of 
their  families,  are  deficient  in  their  duties  to  the 
rest.  The  brethren  of  Joseph,  having  treated  him 
with  cruelty,  lied  to  their  father.  They  took  home 
their  brother's  coat  dyed  in  blood,  leading  Jacob 
to  suppose  that  his  son  had  been  killed  by  a  wild 


120  THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER. 

beast ;  they  affected  to  condole  with  him  on  ae- 
count  of  his  loss,  and  imagined  their  brother  would 
be  heard  of  no  more.  But  events  of  which  they 
could  form  no  conception  were  in  the  womb 
of  Providence  :  the  very  plan  they  had  adopted 
to  degrade  Joseph,  and  lead  him  to  misery,  would 
conduct  him  to  honour  and  happiness. 

Years  rolled  along:  and  while  the  amiable 
youth  was  supposed  by  his  father  and  brethren 
to  be  dead,  he  passed  through  a  series  of  changes, 
— was  at  length  raised  to  distinguished  honours 
in  the  court  of  Egypt,  and  enjoyed  the  blessing 
of  Him  who  had  long  been  the  God  of  his  fa- 
thers. 

To  obtain  food  in  the  time  of  famine,  men  will 
make  many  sacrifices,  and  do  what  at  other 
times  they  would  shrink  from.  Of  this  we  have 
a  striking  proof  in  the  case  of  the  woman,  who, 
in  the  season  of  extreme  scarcity,  slew  her 
child  for  her  sustenancey  v  And  so  now  :  under 
any  other  circumstances,  Jacob  would  have  been 
unwilling  that  his  sons  should  have  gone  down 
to  that  country ;  for  he  had  not  forgotten  the 
consequences  of  his  fathers,  Abraham  and  Isaac, 
leaving  the  promised  land  on  similar  occasions ; 
but  hunger  must  be  supplied,  and  as  provision 
had  been  made  in  Egypt  for  the  persons  who 
needed  a  supply  of  corn,  he  sent  his  ten  sons  on 
that  errand. 


THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER.  121 

Arrived  in  that  country,  they  were  obliged  to 
make  personal  application  to  the  governor  of  the 
land,  who  himself  attended  to  the  requests  of 
foreigners.  No  sooner  did  they  enter  his  pre- 
sence, than  he  recognised  their  features  ;  he  knew 
them  all ;  while,  owing  to  the  various  changes 
that  twenty  years  had  made  in  his  person  and 
circumstances,  they  had  not  the  least  knowledge 
of  him;  nor  could  anything  have  been  farther 
from  their  minds  than  that  the  governor  of  Egypt 
was  no  other  than  their  brother  Joseph. 

What  a  remarkable  fulfilment  of  his  dreams 
would  Joseph  recognise  when  his  brethren  bow- 
ed down  to  him,  and  rendered  him  obeisance  ! 
But  he  did  not  at  once,  as  we  might  have  expect- 
ed, tell  them  who  he  was  ;  on  the  other  hand, 
he  treated  them  with  severity,  ^-  and  spake  rough- 
ly unto  them."  Nor  was  this  at  all  inconsistent 
with  his  possessing  towards  them  the  warmest 
affection,  seeing  that  he  was  desirous  of  making 
them  sensible  of  their  sins:  he  was'  desir- 
ous of  obtaining  all  the  knowledge  he  could 
about  the  family  ;  and  his  purposes  as  to  the 
way  in  which  he  would  make  himself  known 
were  not  fully  matured.  Besides  all  this,  he 
wished  in  various  ways  to  ascertain  their  present 
dispositions,  and  see  how  far  they  were  worthy 
of  his  future  confidence.  As  Joseph  acted  to- 
ll* 


122  THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHEP^ 

wards  his  brethren,  so  does  the  blessed  God  act 
towards  his  people  ;  he  tries  theirij  to  convince 
them  of  their  sins,  and  to  prove  the  existence 
and  strength  of  their  graces.  "  Blessed  is  the 
man  that  endureth  temptation  ;  for  when  he  is 
tried,  he  shall  receive  the  crown  of  life,  which 
the  Lord  hath  promised  to  them  that  love 
him." 

It  frequently  happens,  that  when  persons  are 
brought  into  circumstances  of  peculiar  trial,  it 
reminds  them  of  their  past  sins,  and  they  regard 
their  sufferings  as  judgments  brought  down 
upon  them  by  their  crimes.  Thus  the  poor  wo- 
man, whose  barrel  of  meal  and  cruse  of  oil  had 
been  increased  by  the  prophet,  when  her  son 
was  removed  by  death,  inquired  of  Elijah,  "  What 
have  I  to  do  with  thee,  O  thou  man  of  God?  art 
thou  come  unto  me  to  call  my  sin  to  remem- 
brance,  and  to  slay  my  son  ?"  And  so  when  the 
brethren  of  Joseph  are  thrown  into  prison,  they 
are  at  once  sensible  of  the  crime  they  committed 
against  him  twenty  years  before,  and  said,  "  We 
are  verily  guilty  concerning  our  brother,  in  that 
we  saw  the  anguish  of  his  soul,  when  he  besought 
us,  and  we  would  not  hear  :  therefore  is  this 
distress  come  upon  us."  ITow  little  did  they 
suppose  that  he  whose  face  was  clothed  with  se- 
verity, as  he  visited  them  from  time  to  time,  felt 


THE   AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER,  123" 

all  the  tender  emotions  of  an  affectionate  brother  j 
and  that,  when  he  dismissed  the  rest,  detained 
Simeon  that  he  might  be  sure  to  see  them  again, 
with  his  beloved  brother  Benjamin,  for  whom,  as 
the  child  of  his  own  mother,  he  naturally  felt  the 
tenderest  regard. 

Scarcely  had  they  passed  from  the  presence  of 
the  governor,  than  they  discovered  a  new  proof 
of  his  regard  in  the  money  they  found  in  their 
sacks  with  the  corn.  One  would  have  thought 
that  this,  in  addition  to  the  other  surprising  cir- 
cumstances they  had  witnessed,  would  have  ex- 
cited something  like  suspicion  as  to  who  the 
governor  might  be  ;  but  this  does  not  appear  to 
have  been  the  case.  They  were  probably  too 
much  impressed  with  the  dark  side  of  the  picture 
even  to  recollect  that  it  might  have  a  light  one. 
Joseph  appears  to  have  done  much,  both  now  and 
hereafter,  with  a  view  that  they  might  know 
him  ;  but  they  remained  ignorant  of  the  person 
with  whom  they  had  to  do,  till  he  plainly  told 
them  that  he  was  their  brother. 

We  may  very  readily  imagine,  that  he  who 
could  not  refrain  from  weeping,  even  when  they 
talked  among  themselves  of  their  cruelty  towards 
him,  would  take  care  of  the  comfort  of  Simeon 
in  prison,  and  make  his  bonds  light,  would  fre- 
quently visit  him,  and  feel  more  than  an  ordinary 


124  THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHEK. 

interest  in  the  communications  he  made.  And 
would  he  not  think  the  time  long  before  they 
made  a  second  visit,  and  earnestly  desire  the  in- 
teresting period  when  he  should  have  an  oppor- 
tunity to  tell  them  who  he  was  ? 

It  is  essential  to  the  very  existence  of  man,  that 
he  receive  a  continual  supply  of  the  bounties  of 
Providence.  The  corn  brought  from  Egypt  by 
the  sons  of  Jacob,  notwithstanding  the  utmost 
frugality,  in  so  large  a  family,  would  soon  be 
exhausted  ;  and  it  was  therefore  needful  that 
they  should  pay  a  second  visit  to  that  country  on 
the  same  errand.  Long  and  painful  was  the 
struggle  carried  on  in  the  good  old  patriarch's 
mind,  between  affection  and  want ;  but  at  length 
he  was  compelled  to  allow  Benjamin  to  go  with 
them.  He,  probably,  had  seen  cause  to  suspect 
some  unfair  dealing  towards  Joseph,  and  he  was 
not  without  his  fears  as  to  the  safety  of  Benjamin. 
It  is  both  pleasing  and  painful  to  see  how  anx- 
ious these  sons  were  to  satisfy  their  father's  mind, 
and  to  hear  their  solemn  assurances  as  to  the 
safe  return  of  his  beloved  son. 

Having  again  arrived  at  the  palace  of  the  gov- 
ernor of  Egypt,  they  are  solicitous  to  obtain  the 
good  will  of  the  steward,  and  to  mention  the  cir- 
cumstance of  their  money  on  a  former  occasion 
being  returned.     They  succeed  in  their  wishes^ 


THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER.  125 

and  then  prepare  a  present  to  the  governor,  in 
presenting  which,  they  acknowledge  their  sub- 
jection, and  entreat  the  enjoyment  of  his  favour. 
Who  does  not  watch  with  interest,  profound  and 
delightful,  the  events  of  this  second  interview  T 
With  what  kindness  does  he  meet  them  !  What 
difficulty  would  he  feel  in  keeping  the  secret 
that  he  was  their  brother  !  Casting  his  eyes  on 
the  lovely  Benjamin,  he  asks,  "  Is  this  your 
younger  brother,  of  whom  ye  spake  unto  me  7 
And  he  said,  God  be  gracious  unto  thee,  my  son." 
Never  did  the  poet  imagine,  or  the  painter  pre- 
sent, a  scene  more  interesting  and  affecting  than 
this.  The  eye  fixes  itself  on  the  page  of  narra- 
tion, while  the  imagination  causes  the  various 
circumstances  to  pass  before  us,  and  :he  unbidden 
tear  starts  from  the  eye.  But  the  time  was  not 
yet  come  when  he  would  shew  them  who  he 
was  •  he  therefore  pnidently  retired  to  his  cham- 
ber, to  give  vent  to  his  feelings,  and  to  present 
his  thanksgivings  to  the  God  of  his  mercies. 

When  he  had  partly  recovered  from  the  strong 
feelings  of  agitation,  he  returned  to  his  brethren  ;. 
and  having  placed  them  at  the  table,  according 
to  their  ages,  he  sat  down  to  dinner,  sending 
them  from  his  own  table,  at  which  he  sat  alone, 
a  supply  of  their  wants.  This  was  shewing 
them  peculiar  honour ;  but  to  Benjamin  he  shew- 


126  THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER. 

ed  still  higher  respect,  by  sending  him  a  portion 
of  food  five  times  as  large  as  those  of  the  rest ;  a 
mode  of  giving  honour  which  was  ever  prevalent 
in  the  eastern  countries.  The  circumstances  of 
the  governor  having  them  to  dine  with  him,  and 
his  placing  them  according  to  their  ages,  excited 
their  astonishment,  but  they  did  not,  even  now, 
suspect  who  he  was.  How  would  he  enjoy  their 
company !  while  his  kind  and  amiable  conduct 
towards  them  would  lead  us  to  suspect  that  he 
felt  some  relentings  of  heart  on  account  of  his 
former  severity  ;  or  rather,  perhaps,  that  he  saw 
so  great  an  alteration  for  the  better  in  them,  that 
he  could  not  forbear  to  shew  them  marks  of  his 
affection. 

There  are  few  enjoyments  but  what  are  follow- 
ed with  sharp  and  painful  trials.  After  the  sons 
of  Jacob  had  experienced  the  kindness  of  the  go- 
vernor, and  their  sacks  were  again  filled,  they  set 
out  on  their  journey,  hoping  soon  to  arrive  at  the 
residence  of  their  venerable  parent.  Joseph,  with 
a  view  to  ascertain  the  extent  of  their  regard  to- 
wards his  beloved  brother,  has  ordered  his  stew- 
ard to  place  in  Benjamin's  sack  the  cup  out  of 
which  he  usually  drank  ;  and  when  they  had  ad- 
vanced a  short  distance  towards  Canaan,  he  sent 
messengers  after  them,  charging  them  with  the 
theft,  and  commanding  their  immediate  return. 


THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER  127 

Never  were  persons  placed  in  a  situation  more 
critical  than  they  appeared  to  he,  when  the  cup 
was  found  in  the  sack  of  their  youns^est  brother. 
To  deny  the  crime  under  such  circumstances, 
however  innocent  they  were,  would  be  altogether 
useless ;  had  it  been  found  in  the  possession  of 
any  of  the  rest,  things  had  not  been  so  bad  ;  as  it 
was,  they  would  be  ready  to  say  with  their  fa- 
ther, <'  All  these  things  are  against  us." 

We  will  not  stay  to  dwell  on  the  different 
feelings  which  would  agitate  the  governor  and 
his  brethren  as  they  were  led  back  prisoners  to 
his  presence.  How  would  they  tremble  !  And 
what  must  be  his  emotions  as  he  argued  the  mat- 
ter with  them,  while  he  knew  that  of  this  crime  they 
were  altoofether  innocent  1  And  when  his  brother 
Judah  dehvered  his  celebrated  oration,  in  which 
he  implored  mercy  for  Benjamin  for  the  sake  of 
their  beloved,  aged,  and  already  bereaved  fa- 
ther, how  must  it  pierce  a  heart  like  that  of  Jo- 
sepli !  And,  on  the  other  hand,  keenly  did  his 
brethren  feel,  when  they  imagined  the  justice  of 
God  was  following  them  with  new  sorrows, 
for  their  conduct  towards  their  amiable  brother ! 

Never  does  the  painter  feel  so  much  dissatis- 
fied with  himself,  as  when  he  finds  that,  after 
his  utmost  efforts,  his  pencil  fails  to  delineate  his 
subject  in  its   beauty — that  nature  outstrips  art, 


128  THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER. 

and  defies  it  to  impart  a  glory  equal  to  her  own. 
Such  are  the  feelings  of  the  writer,  when  engag- 
ed on  a  history  like  that  of  Joseph.  No  pencil 
can  paint,  like  that  of  the  inspired  penman,  the 
delightful,  the  affecting  scene  of  Joseph  making 
himself  known  to  his  brethren.  The  Egyptians 
in  attendance  are  ordered  to  withdraw,  that  they 
may  not  be  witnesses  of  their  master's  intense 
feeling,  or  hear  anything  of  the  crimes  of  his 
brethren.  The  order  of  the  governor  being  obey- 
ed, he  burst  into  tears,  and,  addressing  those  who 
stand  before  him  as  prisoners,  he  exclaims,  "  I 
am  Joseph  ;  doth  my  father  yet  live  ? — I  am  Jo- 
seph your  brother,  whom  ye  sold  into  Egypt." 
The  feelings  of  each  party  baffle  all  description  ; 
we  will  therefore,  with  an  interesting  lecturer  on 
the  subject,  "follow  the  modest  example  of  a  ce- 
lebrated painter,  who,  unable  to  delineate  the 
agony  of  a  father  hanging  over  the  corpse  of  an 
only  child,  hid  his  face  in  the  robes  which  veiled 
her  lifeless  remains." 

When  he  saw  that  the  discovery  of  himself  to 
his  brethren  had  excited  their  fears  on  account  of 
their  past  conduct  to  him,  with  what  kindness 
does  tfie  governor  remove  their  dread,  and  en- 
Courage  their  confidence  !— how  piously  does  he 
remind  them  of  the  superintending  hand  of  Provi- 
dence in  the  matter  !  — liow  kindly  does  he  ad- 


THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER.  129 

monish  them  not  to  debate  among  themselves 
who  was  the  greatest  or  the  least  offender  !  and 
with  what  affection  does  he  send  them  back  to 
Canaan,  to  (etch  their  families;  presenting  a  fine 
contrast  to  their  conduct  when  I  hey  sold  him  as 
a  slave  into  a  strancre  land  !  Their  feelino^s  of 
joy  seem  to  have  got  the  mastery  of  their  pru- 
dence;  for  when  they  arrived  at  their  father^s 
house,  the  joyful  news,  wliich  should  have  been 
disclosed  gradually,  was  abruptly  told  at  once  : 
an  excuse,  however,  for  this,  may  be  found  both 
in  the  nature  of  the  intelligence  itself,  and  in  the 
excited  state  of  their  feelings. 

Seventeen  years  do  good  old  Jacob,  his  sons, 
and  their  families,  reside  together  in  Egypt,  be- 
fore death  is  permitted  to  make  a  separation 
among  them.  At  length  the  aged  sire  is  removed 
to  a  better  world  ;  and  now  the  brethren  of  the 
governor  are  aofain  alarmed,  lest  he  should  re- 
member and  punish  their  crime.  But  they  know 
not  the  extent  of  his  benevolence,  or  the  power 
of  his  religion.  He  removes  their  fears,  and 
solemnly  promises  to  continue  the  guardian  of 
them  and  their  families.  More  than  fifty  years 
rolled  along,  but  at  length  Joseph  also  died,  "  in 
the  midst  of  his  brethren,"  having  first  solemnly 
commanded  them  to  carry  up  his  bones  to  the 
12 


130  THE    AFFECTIONATE    BROTHER. 

land  of  Canaan,  to  be  buried  with  theirs,  when- 
ever they  removed  from  Egypt. 

The  leFSons  arising  out  of  this  portion  of  Jo- 
seph's history  can  only  be  glanced  at.  How 
strikingly  does  it  displny  the  avvlul  eflects  of  sin, 
as  tending  to  destroy  all  the  finer  feeUngs  of  the 
soul,  and  preventing  even  the  natural  flow  of  the 
affections  !  How  forcibly  does  it  shew  us  the 
power  of  conscience,  and  tench  us  that  the  sin- 
ner is  his  own  tormentor  !  How  clearly  do  we 
see  the  importance  of  genuine  piety  to  true  dig- 
nity of  character  !  And,  above  all,  how  fre- 
quently are  we  reminded  of  Him  of  whom  Jo- 
seph was  an  eminent  type,  who  "  was  holy,  harm- 
less, undefiled,  and  separate  from  sinners."  If 
we  weep  over  the  sufferings  of  Joseph,  how  much 
more  should  we  indulge  grief  over  our  own  sins, 
that  put  the  son  of  God  to  death  ?  If  we  hear, 
with  feelings  of  interest,  Judah  interceding  for 
his  brother,  how  much  more  admirable  the  con- 
duct of  Him  who  "ever  liveth  to  make  interces- 
sion for  sinners."  Let  the  Christian  be  content, 
like  Joseph,  to  suffer  for  Christ,  knowing,  ''  that 
when  He  shall  appear,"  he  shall  possess  more  joy 
than  the  brethren  of  Joseph  ever  knew,  and  be 
delivered  from  all  grounds  of  fear;  he  shall  see 
his  Saviour,  and  be  separated  from  him  no  more, 
but  "be  ever  with  the  Lord." 


THE  FAITHFUL  STEWARD. 

GEN.    XXXIX. 

I  do  proclaim 
One  honest  man, — mistake  ms  not, —  but  one  ; 
And  he  is  a  steward. 

Shakspeark. 

Come,  peace  of  mind,  delightful  guest  ! 
Return,  and  make  thy  downy  nest 
Once  more  in  this  sad  heart : 
Nor  riches  I,  nor  power  pursue, 
Nor  hold  forbidden  joys  in  view  ; 
We,  therefore,  need  not  part. 

COWPER. 

There  are  few  things  more  essential  to  our  hap- 
piness, or  more  difficult  of  attainment,  than  con- 
tentment with  the  stations  in  which  the  provi- 
dence of  God  has  placed  us.  Without  this  dis- 
position, it  is  impossible  to  be  happy  ;  for  he  who 
grasps  at  what  he  does  not  possess,  shews  his  dis- 
satisfaction with  his  present  lot,  and  is  restless 
and  uneasy  after  the  good  that  seems  before  him, 
which,  when  he  possesses,  only  increases  his  de- 
sires after  something  more.     Thus  does  the  man 


132  THE    FAITHFUL    STEWARD. 

who  expects  happiness,  in  the  present  world,  go 
on  in  seeking  what  he  esteems  the  chief  good,  till 
death,  stopping  his  career,  ushers  him  into  the 
light  of  another  world,  proves  to  him  his  mistake, 
and  convinces  him  that  all  he  pursued  on  earth 
was  vain  in  its  own  nature,  and  unsatisfying  in 
its  possession. 

The  world,  however,  has  occasionally  present- 
ed us  with  persons  who  could  adopt  the  lan- 
guage of  an  inspired  Apostle,  and  say,  "I  have 
learned  in  whatsoever  state  I  aii),  therewith  to  be 
content."  And  who  have  these  persons  been  ? 
Not  those  who  have  amassed  the  riches,  or  grasp- 
ed at  the  petty  enjoyments  of  earth  ;  but  those, 
rather,  whose  hearts  have  been  raised  above 
them,  and  who  possessed  an  earnest  desire  for 
the  enjoyments  of  heaven  while  they  remained 
on  earth.  These  persons,  blessed  as  they  are 
with  the  favour  of  Him  who  created  the  universe, 
— an  interest  in  the  promises  of  his  love, — and 
the  prospect  of  dwelling  with  him  in  heaven,  are 
not  filled  with  undue  anxiety  about  the  affairs 
of  a  world  which  they  must  shortly  leave  : 

"  They  want  but  little,  nor  that  little  long," 

Besides  all  this,  they  view  every  affair  as  go- 
verned by  Infinite  wisdom,  and  know  he  will  per- 
form all  the  good  things  his  boundless  benevo- 


THE    FAITHFUL    STEWARD.  133 

lence  has  designed  for  them.  Amidst  the  disap- 
pointments and  sorrows  they  have  here  to  expe- 
rience, they  direct  their  eyes  to  him  who  sitteth 
in  the  heavens,  and  say,  "  O  Lord,  I  know  that 
the  way  of  man  is  not  in  himself;  it  is  not  in 
man  that  walketh  to  direct  his  steps." 

A mono^  the  mysterious  events  which  a  Divine 
Providence  has  first  permitted,  and  then  over- 
ruled for  good,  few  things  are  more  striking  tlian 
those  recorded  in  the  history  of  Joseph.  It  ap- 
pears hard  that  so  lovely  a  youth,  so  dutiful  a 
son,  so  affectionate  a  hrother,  should  be  treated 
as  he  was.  We  should  have  expected  that  God 
would  have  dehvered  him  from  going  down  into 
Egypt,  and  have  punished  his  brethren  who  de- 
signed to  send  him  there.  But  instead  of  this, 
he  allows  the  one  to  go  into  captivity,  and  the 
others  to  prosper  awhile  in  their  unrighteous 
conduct.  We  shall  see,  however,  in  the  end, 
that  all  was  rio:ht,  and  was  desio^ned  to  brinor 
about  the  most  important  events  ; — to  shew  the 
wisdom  of  the  Supreme  Being,  and  "  to  save 
much  people  alive." 

We  now  contemplate  Joseph  sold  by  the  Ish- 
maeliteSj  who  had  purchased  him  of  his  brethren, 
as  a  slave  to  Potiphar,  an  officer  of  Pharaoh.  It 
was  a  very  painful  situation,  and  we  might  have 
expected  that  he  would  have  escaped  from  it,  and 


134  THE    FAITHFUL    STEWARD. 

have  returned  to  his  father's  house.  Had  he 
done  thiS;  however,  he  must  have  injured  Poti- 
phar,  who  had  fairly  bon2:lit  him  ;  he  would  too 
have  hurt  the  mind  of  his  father,  by  the  repre- 
sentations he  must  have  made  of  the  conduct  of 
his  brethren,  and  have  increased  their  rage 
against  him.  But  the  most  powerful  reason  that 
can  be  assigned  why  Joseph  staid  in  his  unhappy 
situation  was,  that,  his  mind  being  influenced  by 
the  grace  of  God,  he  was  satisfied  that  the  hand 
of  the  Lord  was  in  the  whole  affair,  and  that, 
when  he  pleased,  he  was  able  to  release  him 
from  his  captivity,  and'restore  him  to  his  former 
happiness. 

That  is  a  very  dehghtful  promise,  and  of  uni- 
versal application  :  "When  a  man's  ways  please 
the  Lord,  he  maketh  even  his  enemies  to  be  at 
peace  with  him."  Not  only  was  Joseph  blessed 
with  contentment  in  his  station,  and  enabled 
with  patience  to  submit  to  the  trials  connected 
with  it, — but  He  with  whom  he  held  communion 
as  the  father  of  his  spirit,  and  as  his  refuge  in 
every  hour  of  trial,  caused  his  master  to  treat 
him  with  respect,  and  raise  him  to  a  station  more 
honourable  than  the  one  he  had  been  destined  to 
fill  when  he  was  first  brought  into  Egypt. 

The  fiwours  of  the  blessed  God  are  always 
suited  to  the  circumstances  of  those  to  whom 


THE    FAITHFUL    STEWARD.  135 

they  are  given.  In  the  hour  of  extreme  sorrow 
we  need  more  than  usual  supports  ;  and  He 
who  is  described  as  "  the  consoUxtion  of  Israel" 
is  ever  near  to  afford  them.  When  Joseph  be- 
came a  "  stranger  in  a  strange  land,"  the  God  of 
his  fathers  "  was  with  him."  And  what  could 
he  want  more  than  this  to  make  him  happy  ? 
He  possessed  more  riches  than  his  master,  more 
honour  than  Pharaoh,  and  more  pleasure  than  all 
Egypt  could  afford  him.  The  comforts  of  God 
delighted  his  soul,  he  prospered  in  spiritual  en- 
joyments, and  in  bodily  health.  And  though  he 
must  sometimes  have  felt  a  desire  to  return  to 
Canaan,  yet  did  he  rejoice  in  the  providence  of 
God,  that  had  made  him  happy  in  the  house  of 
his  master,  the  Egyptian.  It  is  the  Divine  fa- 
vour which  makes  us  blessed,  and  not  a  resi- 
dence in  the  lordly  hall,  or  the  magnificent  pa- 
lace ;  it  is  his  presence  which  fills  us  with  true 
enjoyment,  and  not  that  of  our  relatives,  how- 
ever great  the  affection  they  may  bear  towards  us. 
It  is  a  fact  which  is  very  frequently  placed  be- 
fore us  in  the  sacred  volume,  that  men  are  often 
blessed  on  account  of  the  people  of  God,  with 
whom  they  may  be  connected.  The  master  of 
Joseph  was  blessed  for  his  sake ;  the  house  of 
Obed-edom  was  blessed  for  the  sake  of  the  ark  of 
God  which  was  in  it ;  the  house  of  Naaman  was 


136  THE    FAITHFUL    STEWARD. 

blessed  for  the  sake  of  the  pious  Hebrew  maid, 
who  had  been  carried  captive  from  the  h\nd  of  Is- 
rael, and  who  waited  on  his  wife.  Indeed,  so 
strongly  was  this  idea  imprest  on  the  mind  of 
many,  that  in  the  days  of  the  Judges,  when  a  co- 
vetous professor  had  engaged  a  strolling  priest 
to  conduct  his  religious  exercises,  he  said,  "  Now 
know  1  that  the  Lord  will  do  me  good,  seeing  I 
have  a  Levite  to  my  priest."  In  this  conduct  Je- 
hovah appears  as  the  Supreme  Governor  of  all 
human  affairs, — shews  the  love  he  bears  to  his 
people, — illustrates  the  advantages  of  trne  piety, 
and  proves  the  truth  of  his  own  word,  "  that  his 
people  are  the  salt  of  the  earth,"  preserving  it 
from  destruction. 

The  diligence  of  Joseph  in  the  acquirement  of 
the  language  of  the  country, — his  industry  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duty, — his  honesty  in  transacting 
his  master's  business, — the  cheerfulness  with 
which  he  submitted  to  perform  the  most  degrad- 
ing duties  which  devolved  upon  him, — and,  above 
all,  his  unostentatious,  but  fervent  piety,  won 
upon  his  master,  and  convinced  him  that  this 
young  man  must  be  a  favourite  of  the  Supreme 
Deity,  who  was  alone  worshipped  by  the  He- 
brews. How  much  good  may  even  servants  do 
by  a  kind  and  Christian-like  conduct  towards 
their  masters!      Tliey  need  not  talk   much  of 


THE    FAITHFUL   STEWARD.  137 

their  religion  ;  if  it  exists  in  their  hearts,  and  ap- 
pears in  their  conduct,  it  will  be  seen,  and  may- 
produce  effects  that  will  astonish  them.  Poti- 
phar,  though  an  heathen,  saw  "  that  the  Lord 
was  with  Joseph,"  and  he  raised  him,  from  being 
an  interior  slave,  to  be  the  "  overseer,"  or  stew- 
ard of  his  bouse,  putting  all  his  affairs  into  his 
hands,  and  leaving  them  to  his  direction.  Let 
us,  in  every  station  in  which  we  may  be  placed, 
make  much  of  God,  and  be  concerned  to  sliew 
forth  his  glory  by  a  conduct  consistent  with  our 
profession  of  love  to  him,  and  regard  to  his  law. 
Ten  or  eleven  years  rolled  away ;  and  Joseph 
was  quite  as  happy  as  his  residence  among  those 
who  knew  not  God  could  allow  him  to  be.  He  bad 
almost  forgotten  the  endearments  of  home,  as  well 
as  the  cruelty  of  his  brethren  :  he  imagined  he 
had  now  found  a  resting-place,  and  probably  ex- 
pected to  live  and  die  in  the  service  of  his  master. 
But  we  know  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth. 
While  Joseph  was  happy  in  his  station,  and  still 
happier  in  the  service  of  his  God,  adversity  was 
wringing  sorrows  into  his  cup,  and  preparing  a 
prison  for  his  residence.  We  often  need  to  be 
exercised  with  trials,  or  else,  like  this  amiable 
young  man,  we  should  be  content  to  take  up  our 
residence  in  our  enemy's  land.  The  afflictive 
dispensations  of  the  Divine  hand  teach  us  our 


138  THE    FAITHFUL    STEWARD. 

State  of  dependence,  and  shew  us  the  true  source 
of  hiessedncss. 

One  of  the  most  dangerous  enemies  that  can 
infest  our  way  is  sensual  pleasure.  It  is  far 
easier  to  resist  tfie  teinpiatious  of  Satan  in  any 
oth(*r  form  than  when  they  unite  with  the  propen- 
sities of  our  nature.  How  important,  then,  that 
we  exercise  the  utmost  vigilance  over  ourselves, 
and  direct  our  prayer  to  the  God  of  our  mercies 
that  we  may  be  kept  from  dishonour  and  dis- 
grace. No  foe  is  more  dangerous  than  an  evil- 
designing  woman,  who  lieth  in  wait  to  deceive 
the  youth  she  professes  to  love,  but  whose  ruin 
she  is  actually  accomplishing.  Well  might  the 
wise  niiui  say  that,  "her  feet  take  hold  on  hell." 
O  let  if  be  the  constant  concern  of  my  juvenile 
readers  to  shun  the  path  which  may  indeed  seem 
pleasant,  but  which  in  the  end  leads  to  ruin,  and 
to  death. 

The  precise  nature  of  the  temptation  to  which 
Jehovah  was  exposed  need  not  now  to  be  enlarg- 
ed on.  1  would  rather  direct  the  attention  of  my 
readers  to  the  spiritdisplayed  by  him  on  an  occa- 
sion which  powerfully  tried  his  virtue,  and  put 
his  religion  to  the  severest  test.  Thus  shall  we 
see  how  trrace  triumphs  over  nature,and  religion 
exalts  and  dignifies  its  possessor. 

An  old  commentator  lias  remarked,  "that  as 


THE    FAITHFUL    STEWARD.  139 

the  beams  of  the  sun  shining  upon  fire  doth  dis- 
courage its  burning,  so  should  God's  mercies  or 
man's  favours  quell  lust  and  licentiousness  in  us." 
Joseph  shewed  a  noble  indignation  against  sin, 
even  when  presented  to  him  in  its  most  attractive 
form.  He  reminds  his  mistress  of  the  honour  to 
which  his  master  had  raised  him,  mtimating  that 
to  comply  with  her  requests  would  be  the 
height  of  ingratitude ;  and  lest  this  should  not 
be  sufficient  to  stop  her  progress  in  the  way  of 
iniquity,  he  asks,  "  How  can  I  do  this  great  wick- 
edness, and  sin  against  God  ?"  Here  was  the  prin- 
ciple which  governed  his  conduct — the  fear  of 
God.  It  was  not  merely  the  good  resolutions  he 
had  formed  which  kept  him  from  sin,  but  a  deep 
and  abiding  conviction  of  the  obligations  under 
which  he  lay  to  Jehovah — a  recollection  of  the 
claims  of  his  law — and  a  realizing  sense  of  his 
presence.  O,  if  we  felt,  as  we  ought  to  do,  what 
we  owe  to  the  Supreme  Being,  if  we  ever  con- 
tinued to  remember  that  he  beholds  all  our  goings, 
and  thought  of  the  incalculable  mischief  which 
sin  effects  among  our  fellow-creatures,  what  dif- 
ferent persons  should  we  be,  to  what  we  now  are  ! 
Let  us,  like  Joseph,  not  merely  feel  a  spirit  of  in- 
dignation against  sin  in  the  first  instance  ;  but  let 
us  boldly  remonstrate  against  it,  be  firm  in  our 
opposition  to  it,  and,  if  it  be  necessary,  flee  from 


140  THE    FAITHFUL    STEWARD. 

it,  even  though  the  flight  itself  may  expose  us  to 
danger. 

There  is  one  circumstance  connected  with  the 
narrative  which  at  first  view  excites  our  surprise. 
When  Potiphar  returned,  and  his  wife  charged 
Joseph  with  a  crime  of  the  most  heinous  nature, 
it  appears  singular  that  he  does  not  attempt  to 
defend  himself.  But  it  may  be  observed,  that  he 
could  not  do  this  without  criminating  his  mis- 
tress in  the  eyes  of  her  husband,  and  thus  des- 
troying the  happiness  of  their  lives  ever  after. 
Besides  this,  as  he  had  no  witnesses  to  make  good 
the  assertions  he  could  make,  he  might  justly 
imajrine  that  a  defence  on  his  part,  even  though 
true,  would  only  aggravate  his  punishment.  It 
is,  however,  worthy  our  remark,  that  the  law 
which  considered  this  crime  a  capital  oftence, 
and  punished  it  with  death,  was  not  executed. 
It  is  not  improbable,  but  that  Potiphar  might  sus- 
pect the  deception  of  his  wife,  and  infer,  from  the 
whole  tenour  of  Joseph's  conduct,  his  innocence 
of  the  crime  laid  to  his  charge.  Instead  there- 
fore of  executing  the  punishment  the  law  inflict- 
ed, "  he  put  him  into  the  prison,  the  place  where 
the  kind's  prisoners  were  bound." 

It  may  appear  mysterious  to  us  that  the  bles- 
sed God  permits  his  people  sometimes  to  "suffer 
as  evil  doers ;"  but  we  know  that  he  has  impor- 


THE   FAITHFUL   STEWARD.  141 

tant  reasons  for  all  that  he  allows,  and  that  in 
some  future  day  the  righteousness  of  his  people 
shall  shine  as  the  noon-day  sun,  and  all  his  con- 
duct shall  be  justified  to  the  world.  Those  who 
are  now  suffering  under  false  accusations  may 
safely  commit  their  cause  to  "  him  who  judgeth 
righteously,"  and  hope  for  the  return  of  prosper- 
ous days.  Joseph  found  that  the  prison  was  the 
way  to  a  throne,  and  those  who  now  suffer  in 
the  cause  of  virtue  and  religion,  may  rely  not 
merely  on  an  acquittal  at  the  bar  of  Jehovah,  in  the 
presence  of  an  assembled  universe,  but  on  being 
crowned  with  honours  substantial  as  they  are 
pure,  and  lasting  as  they  are  satisfying. 

While  considering  the  conduct  of  Joseph  in 
the  house  of  Potiphar,  every  reader  must  have 
been  struck  with  the  coincidence  between  Joseph 
and  the  blessed  Redeemer,  of  whom  he  was  so 
eminent  a  type.  They  were  both  tempted,  and 
both  resisted  the  tempter,  and  came  off"  victorious  ; 
affording  us  encouragement  to  resist  also,  that  he 
may  flee  from  us.  The  subject  suggests  to  us 
the  importance  of  praying  to  be  enabled  to  con- 
tend against  the  enemy  of  our  souls,  since  listen- 
ing to  his  suggestions  is  attended  with  the  most 
direful  effects.  We  see  in  the  case  of  Joseph  that 
true  religion  will  make  a  man  respected  in  every 
station  of  society.  As  the  Great  Source  of  all  good 
13 


142  THE  FAITHFUL   STEWARD. 

blesses  one  man  for  the  sake  of  another,  let  us  as- 
sociate ourselves  with  the  people  of  God ;  and 
above  all,  let  us  seek  blessings  from  Heaven,  for 
the  sake  of  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  "  whom  the 
Father  always  heareth" 


THE  PIOUS  PRISONER. 


GEN.    XXXIX. — XL. 


The  oppressor  holds 


His  body  bound,  but  knows  not  what  a  range 
His  spirit  takes,  unconscious  of  a  chain  ; 
And  that  to  bind  him  is  a  vain  attempt, 
Whom  God  delights  in,  and  in  whom  he  dwells. 

COWPER. 

The  most  indifferent  spectator  of  what  passes  on 
the  stage  of  the  world  must  have  been  struck  with 
the  apparent  confusion  in  which  its  affairs  are  in- 
volved ;  and  be  impressed  with  the  fact,  that  the 
present  state  is  one  of  trial  or  probation.  The  an- 
cient philosophers,  unblest  as  they  were  with  the 
light  of  Revelation,  supposed  that  the  trials  of  life 
were  designed  to  afford  illustrations  of  the  vir- 
tues of  the  good,  and  that  a  period  would  pro- 
bably arrive  when  the  mighty  Governor  of  the 
world  would  reward  the  men  who,  notwithstand- 
ing their  sufferings,  had  walked  in  the  paths  of 
virtue,  and  would  punish  those  who  indulged  in 
the  practice  of  vice.     The  knowledge  derived 


144  THE    PIOUS    PRISONER* 

from  reason  is  confirmed  and  improved  by  Reve* 
lation.  Here  we  are  introduced  to  a  Being  who 
sitteth  in  the  heavens,  controUing  the  affairs  of 
the  universe,  and  doing  whatsoever  pleases  him. 
To  fulfil  the  designs  of  his  wisdom,  and  to  furnish 
an  opportunity  for  the  display  of  the  holy  princi- 
ples which  he  has  implanted  in  the  hearts  of  his 
people,  as  well  as  to  shew  the  awful  depravity  of 
which  we  are  the  natural  subjects,  he  allows 
men,  to  a  very  considerable  extent,  to  go  on  in 
their  own  ways.  And  oh,  what  scenes  of  wick- 
edness do  we  sometimes  witness  !  What  conduct 
is  shewn  by  the  slaves  of  Satan  towards  those 
who  have  left  his  service,  and  have  devoted  them- 
selves to  that  of  Heaven  !  How  do  they  seek  to 
injure  their  reputation,  destroy  their  comfort,  and, 
in  many  instances,  deprive  them  even  of  their 
lives  !  On  the  other  hand,  what  delightful  evi- 
dences of  the  power  of  truth  on  the  heart  have 
we  seen  in  the  patience  with  which  Christians 
have  borne  their  trials, — the  constancy  with 
which  they  have  sought  the  good  of  their  perse- 
cutors,—and  the  simple  reliance  they  have  plac- 
ed on  the  promises  of  Jehovah  ! 

In  the  midst  of  all  this  apparent  confusion,  we 
must  not  forget,  that  He  who  presides  over  the 
affairs  of  the  world  will  both  support  his  people 
under  their  trials,  and  in  due  time  deliver  them 


"THE    PIOUS    PRISONER.  145 

out  of  all  their  sufferings.  He  may  now  allow  vir- 
tue to  be  treated  as  though  it  were  vice  ; — he 
may  permit  his  people  to  be  immured  in  prisons, 
and  even  suffer  some  of  them  to  be  burnt  at  the 
stake,  that  the  reality  and  the  power  of  their  reli- 
gion may  be  made  manifest ;  but  when  he  has 
accomplished  the  designs  he  has  formed,  he  will 
shew  us  the  principles  which  regulated  his  con- 
duct, and  thus  exhibit  the  infinite  glory  of  his 
own  character,  the  superiority  of  holiness,  and  the 
odious  deformity  of  sin. 

When  we  read  the  history  of  Joseph,  we  are 
not  a  little  surprised  and  grieved  to  find  that  a 
youth  of  such  extraordinary  piety,  and  who  dis- 
played the  strength  of  that  piety  as  overcoming 
temptation  in  its  strongest  forms,  is  treated  as 
one  of  the  vilest  of  men.     Prisons  are  only  de- 
signed for  the  residence  of  those  whose  sins  des- 
troy the  peace  and  injure  the  safety  of  society  ; 
but  they  have  sometimes  been  occupied  by  men 
"  of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy  ;"  and  in 
some  instances  they  have  proved  the  means,  in 
the  hands  of  God,  of  elevating  his  servants  to 
honours,  to  which  they  could  not  otherwise  have 
been  raised. 

1  need  not  remind  my  readers  of  the  nature  of 
the  crime  with  which  Joseph  is  charged,  as  we 
have  referred  to  it  in  our  preceding  paper.    And 
13* 


146  THE    PIOUS    PRISONER. 

if  we  pause  again  to  express  our  surprise  that 
death,  the  sentence  awarded  to  it  by  hiw,  was 
not  executed,  it  will  only  lead  us  to  admire  the 
goodness  of  that  Being  who  controls  the  passions 
of  men,  and  restrains  their  wrath.  He  would 
not,  in  this  instance  at  least,  allow  the  innocent 
to  suffer  as  the  guilty  ;  and  though  he  permits 
him  to  be  cast  into  prison,  he  will  make  his  humi- 
liation the  means  of  raising  him  to  the  highest 
dignity  in  the  court  of  Egypt,  and  to  immortal 
honours  on  the  page  of  inspiration. 

In  whatever  circumstances  the  people  of  God 
may  be  placed,  their  character,  and  the  princi- 
ples by  which  they  are  governed,  will  soon  be 
known.  Religion,  though  it  makes  no  noise, 
encircles  its  possessor  with  a  glory  which  distin- 
guishes him  above  his  fellows,  and  makes  him 
so  prominent,  that  he  cannot  be  hid.  Joseph 
may  be  treated  as  one  whose  sins  render  him  un- 
fit to  enjoy  the  advantages  of  society, — he  may 
be  thrust  into  a  dungeon,  and  the  irons  may  en- 
ter his  soul, — but  even  there  he  shall  be  happy,  and 
his  worth  shall  become  known.  "  The  Lord  was 
with  Joseph ;"  and  his  presence  was  enough  to 
raise  his  mind  above  his  trials,  and  to  guide  him 
in  a  way  that  should  influence  the  jailer  to  put  con- 
fidence in  him,  and  place  the  other  prisoners  under 
his  care,  as  well  as  to  crown  with  prosperity  every 


THE    PIOUS    PRISONER.  147 

work  in  which  he  was  engaged.  In  the  house  of 
Potiphar  he  was  raised  to  the  honour  of  having 
everything  placed  under  his  charge,  and  it  was 
precisely  the  same  in  the  prison.  The  fear  of 
the  Lord  confers  on  its  subject  a  true  respecta- 
bihty  in  the  eyes  of  men,  and  compels  them  prac- 
tically to  admit,  that  •'  the  righteous  is  more  ex- 
cellent than  his  neighbour." 

The  spirit  of  true  religion  is  one  of  genuine  be- 
nevolence.    Had  a  proud  haughty  man,  destitute 
of  holy  principles,  but  innocent  of  any  glarino- 
crime,  been  thrown  into  a  dungeon,  like  Joseph, 
he  would  have  disdained  to  have  had  any  kind  of 
communication  with  those  who  had  been  placed 
there  in  consequence    of  actual    transgression. 
This,  however,  was  not  the  case  with  this  pious 
young  man.     Two  of  the  servants  of  the  king, 
his  butler  and  his  chief  baker,  had,  it  has  been 
supposed,  engaged  in  a  conspiracy  against  his 
life  and  government,  for  which  he  had  thrust 
them  into  prison.   As  Pharaoh  was  "  wroth"  with 
them,  and  was  possessed  of  arbitrary  power,  it  is 
rather  surprising  that  he  did  not  at  once  deprive 
them  of  life ;  but  He  who  has  the  hearts  of  all 
men  in  his  hand,  and  who  turneth  even  the  heart 
of  the  king,  inclined  him  to  send  them  to  prison, 
as  by  the  means  of  one  of  these  he  would  ulti- 
mately deliver  his  servant.    We  are  frequently- 


118  THE    PIOUS    PRISONEK. 

unable  to  account  for  remarkable  actions  on  the 
part  of  our  governors  ;  but  are  too  apt  to  forget 
that  the  providence  of  God,  by  their  means,  may 
be  accomplishing  important  designs.  Three  per- 
sons were  specially  committed  to  the  care  of  Jo- 
seph, who  treated  them  with  all  the  kindness 
which  a  regard  to  the  security  of  their  persons 
would  permit. 

Whatever  controversy  the  subject  may  now  ad- 
mit of,  it  is  certain  that  the  blessed  God  frequent- 
ly, in  the  early  ages  of  time,  used  to  convey  inti- 
mations of  his  will  and  the  knowledge  of  future 
events,  by  dreams ;  and  this  not  only  to  his  own 
people,  but  also  to  the  heathen  nations.  The  ex- 
planation of  dreams  formed  a  real  or  supposed 
science,  which  was  studied,  and  that  profession- 
ally, by  no  inconsiderable  number  of  persons  in 
different  countries.  One  night,  each  of  the  ser- 
vants of  Pharaoh  had  a  singular  dream,  which 
they  were  unable  to  understand  ;  and  as  they  had 
no  access  to  those  whose  province  it  was  to  inter- 
pret dreams,  they  were  filled  with  anxiety  and 
grief  As  Joseph  visited  them  on  the  following 
morning,  he  saw  the  sorrow  of  which  they  were 
the  subjects  depicted  on  their  countenances,  and 
very  kindly  inquired  into  its  cause.  They  can- 
didly explained  to  him  the  reason  of  their  trouble, 
expecting,  no   doubt,  to  receive  the  sympathy 


THE    PIOUS    PRISONER.  149 

which  lightens  the  burden  of  sorrow ;  nor  were 
they  disappointed ;  for  he  had  learned  to  weep 
with  those  in  grief,  and  to  sympathize  with  these 
men,  as  one  "  bound  with  them." 

There  are  few  situations  in  which  Joseph  could 
have  been  placed  that  would  have  displayed  to 
greater  advantage  the  feelings  of  his  heart,  or  that 
could  have  more  strikingly  illustrated  his  hu- 
mility, and  his  devotedness  to  the  God  of  Israel 
than  this.  He  "condescends  to  men  of  low 
estate," — he  inquires  into  their  sorrows, — con- 
veys, in  the  kindest  manner,  the  intimation  that 
the  God  he  served  possessed  all  wisdom,  and  was 
able  to  remove  their  perplexities, — and  intimates 
that,  in  answer  to  prayer,  he  would  communicate 
to  him  the  information  they  so  anxiously  desired. 
All  this  he  spoke  under  the  immediate  direction: 
and  inspiration  of  Jehovah,  who  was  thus  ac- 
complishing designs  unknown  even  to  Joseph. 

Having  by  his  former  conduct,  as  well  as  his 
present  frankness  and  candour,  obtained  the  con- 
fidence of  these  persons,  they  freely  tell  him  their 
dreams.  And  in  the  interpretation  of  them,  we 
indeed  find  him  "  one  of  a  thousand."  While  we 
admire  his  benevolence,  we  are  equally  struck 
with  his  fidelity.  He  would  fain  have  communi- 
cated intelligence  equally  happy  to  each  ;  but 
this,  neither  the  duty  he  owed  to   God,  from 


150  THE    PIOUS    PRISONER. 

whom  he  received  his  message,  the  regard  he 
must  pay  to  his  own  conscience,  or  the  debt  of 
justice  due  to  them,  would  allow.  He  informed 
the  butler  that  in  three  days  he  would  be  restor- 
ed to  his  former  station  in  the  house  of  Pharaoh  ; 
and  the  baker,  that  his  royal  master  would,  at  the 
same  time,  deprive  him  of  his  life.  While  this 
news  would  be  agreeable  to  the  one,  it  would 
much  distress  the  mind  of  the  other,  who  would 
rather  have  had  smooth  things  proclaimed  in  his 
ears.  Bat  it  ever  becomes  those  whose  office  it 
is  to  explain  the  Divine  will  to  be  faithful  to  their 
trust.  Had  Joseph  told  the  baker  that  he  also 
should  be  restored,  it  would  have  given  him  pre- 
sent pleasure,  but  into  what  a  delusion  had  he 
been  led  !  To  allow  sinners  to  deceive  themselves 
in  matters  of  eternal  importance,  as  is  too  frequent- 
ly done,  is  cruelty  which  the  most  powerful  lan- 
guage cannot  fully  represent.  How  melancholy 
had  been  the  situation  of  the  chief  baker,  had  Jo- 
seph allowed  him  to  hope  for  re-admission  into 
the  house  of  Pharaoh,  when  the  executioner  came 
but  three  days  after  to  deprive  him  of  his  life  ^ 
and  how  much  more  distressing  the  state  of 
the  man  who,  through  life,  indulges  a  system 
of  religious  opinions  which  encourages  him  in 
his  sins,  and  leads  him  to  expect  with  confidence 
the  joys  of  heaven  at  the  hand  of  his  Judge,  when 


THE    PIOUS    PRISONER.  151 

he  shall  be  driven  from  the  source  of  all  happi- 
ness, and  shall  fall  into  the  regions  of  absolute 
misery.  Far  safer  is  the  man  who  tremblingly 
listens  to  the  scriptural  representations  of  his  dan- 
ger, and  flees  to  Jesus  as  the  refuge  of  his  soul, 
than  he  who  indulges  in  confidence  which  must 
infallibly  end  in  disappointment  and  shame. 

It  appears  highly  probable  that  the  dreams 
with  which  Joseph  had  been  favoured  in  his 
youth,  of  the  dignity  to  which  he  should  be  rais- 
ed, were  designed  to  afford  him  comfort  under 
the  sorrows  he  should  be  called  to  experience  ; 
and  they  seem  to  have  had  this  effect,  "  He  judg- 
ed him  faithful  who  had  promised,"  and  believed 
he  was  able  to  perform  his  words.  When  these 
servants  of  Pharaoh  had  dreamt,  and  he  foresaw 
the  return  of  the  chief  butler  to  honour,  it  is  by 
no  means  improbable  that  he  might  suppose  by 
his  means  the  object  would  be  accomplished. 
Little  did  he  imagine  that  he  had  two  long  years 
yet  to  endure  his  bondage.  Who  can  read  the 
pathetic  address  of  Joseph  to  the  chief  butler 
without  emotion  ?  "  Think  on  me,  when  it  shall 
be  well  with  thee,  and  shew  kindness,  I  pray 
thee,  unto  me,  and  make  mention  of  me  unto 
Pharaoh,  and  bring  me  out  of  this  house." 

What  he  had  almost  a  right  to  demand,  he 
here  solicited  as  a  favour.     It  is  true  that  his  situ- 


152  THE    PIOUS    PRISONER. 

ation  had  been  made  tolerable,  and  he  was  ena- 
bled patiently  to  bear  it  ;  but  it  was  yet  degrad- 
ing, while  he  was  unjustly  deprived  of  many  of 
the  enjoyments  of  life,  and  he  was  therefore  per- 
fectly justifiable  in  desiring  to  be  freed  from  it. 
Wishing  to  put  the  butler  in  possession  of  all  the 
facts  which  could  interest  him  in  his  favour,  and 
promote  the  desired  end,  he  went  on  to  inform 
him,  that  he  was  in  the  first  instance  stolen  from 
the  land  of  the  Hebrews,  being  brought  from 
thence,  without  the  consent  ofeither  his  father  or 
himself;  and  though  he  had  been  bought  by  the 
Midianites,  it  had  been  of  those  who  had  no 
right  to  sell  him,  and  in  a  way  which  the  law  of 
God  condemned  as  unjust.  He  asserted  farther, 
that  he  had  done  nothing  why  he  should  be  con- 
fined in  the  prison.  It  is  well  worthy  of  our 
remark,  that  while  Joseph  defended  himself,  and 
protested  his  innocence,  he  neither  criminated 
his  brethren  nor  his  mistress.  There  was  cer- 
tainly wrong  somewhere,  but  it  was  enough  for 
Joseph  to  shew  that  it  was  not  with  him. 

Joseph  had  a  very  reasonable  right  to  expect 
that  the  request  he  had  made  to  the  servant  of 
Pharaoh,  who  was  about  being  restored  to  his 
station,  would  be  attended  to.  He  had  shewn 
him  much  kindness  in  the  hour  of  adversity, 
and  it  was  but  just  to  require  a  return  of  it  when 


THE    PIOUS    PRISONER.  153 

it  lay  ill  his  power.  But,  alas  !  men  are  almost 
universally  selfish,  and  care  for  the  interests  of 
non  3  but  themselves.  It  is  probable  that  the 
butler,  like  our  fellow  creatures  trenerally,  made 
very  fair  promises,  assured  him  of  his  infiuenccj 
and  excited  the  warmest  hopes  ;  a  practice,  alas  ! 
too  often  indulo^ed  in  by  courtiers, — "  yet  did  not 
the  chief  builer  remember  Joseph,  but  forgat  him.*' 
In  prison  he  continued  to  lie  for  many  long  and 
wearisome  months  ;  till  the  hand  of  God  was 
stretched  forth  for  his  deliverance,  which  was  ef- 
fected by  a  providence  as  mysterious  as  any  of 
which  we  can  conceive,  and  which  we  shall  en- 
deavour to  illustrate  in  our  next  paper. 

The  circumstances  which  have  now  passed 
under  our  review  teach  us  the  propriety  of  set- 
ting Jehovah  always  before  us,  and  making  him 
the  guide  of  our  lives.  We  see  that  though  the 
pious  man  may  for  awhile  lie  under  the  cloud  of 
degradation,  and  be  subject  to  persecution,  yet 
that  God  will  appear  for  him,  and  deliver  him  out 
of  all  his  trials.  We  learn  the  odious  nature, 
and  see  the  detestable  fruits,  of  ingratitude, — a 
vice  which  God  abhors,  which  man  execrates 
while  he  practises  it,  and  which  some  earthly 
governments  have  punished  with  severity.  While 
we  hate  it  in  others,  let  us  not  practise  it  our- 
selves, either  towards  God  or  our  fellow  crea- 
14 


154  THE    PIOUS    PRISONER. 

tures.  And  lastly,  we  are  reminded  of  that  Jesus 
who  stooped  from  his  throne,  and,  for  our  sakes, 
became  a  prisoner  in  the  grave ;  from  whence  he 
rose  to  the  right  hand  of  his  Father,  where  he  is 
adored  as  "  Lord  of  all,"  and  where  he  ever  sits, 
scattering  the  richest  favours  on  the  perishing 
children  of  Adam. 


THE   RIGHTEOUS  GOVERNOR. 


GEN.  XLI. — L. 


I  never  did  behold  a  man  less  proud, 
More  dignified,  or  grateful  to  admire, 
Tlian  was  this  ruler. 

His  fortunes  nothing  teased  him  from  himself, 
And  he  but  filled  his  fortunes  like  a  man, 
Who  did  intend  to  honour  them  as  much 
As  they  could  honour  him. 

Howard. 

To  a  believer  in  Divine  Revelation,  it  is  a  pleas- 
iiig  and  consolatory  thought,  that  He  who  creat- 
ed the  world  governs  the  affairs  of  all  his  crea- 
tures. Amidst  the  trials  inseparable  from  hu- 
manity, the  infidel  has  no  support,  and  from 
them  he  has  no  refuge.  Had  not  the  excellent 
and  amiable  Joseph  possessed  the  knowledge  of 
the  God  of  his  fathers,  he  had  pined  with  discon- 
tent in  the  house  of  Potiphar,  or  have  died  in 
despair  in  the  gloomy  recesses  of  a  prison.  But 
supported  by  faith  in  the  bei;ig  and  providence 
of  Jehovah,  persuaded  that  all  things  were  work- 
ing for  his  good,  he  rose  superior  to  his  trials. 


156  TMK    RIGHTEOUS    GOVERNOR. 

and  looked  forward  to  the  period  when  the  de- 
signs of  the  blessed  God  in  his  sufferings  should 
be  fn hilled,  and  he  should  he  exalted  to  prosper- 
ity and  honour. 

It  has  sometimes  been  the  case,  that  when  God 
has  seen  fit  to  try  his  {  eople  by  adversity,  he  has 
prepared  them  for  their  trials  by  previous  com- 
munications of  his  favour,  and  has  endowed 
them  with  strength  to  endure  bodily  or  mental 
pams,  to  glorify  him  in  the  fires  of  affliction,  and 
to  expect  a  glorious  deliverance  from  them  all. 
In  early  life,  as  we  have  already  seen,  Joseph 
had  intimations,  by  repeated  dreams,  of  the  hon- 
ours which  awaited  him  ;  and  though  his  father 
attempted  to  check  what  he  might  possibly  con- 
sider the  risings  of  anjbition,  and  the  hunjility 
which  so  eminently  adorned  the  character  of 
Joseph  prevented  him,  as  he  j^rew  older,  from 
talkincr  of  them,  there  can  be  little  doubt  bnt  that 
his  prophetic  visions  suj)ported  liim  under  his 
sorrows,  and  that  the  honours  to  which  he  rose 
did  not  fill  him  with  the  surprise  which  they 
otherwise  would  have  done. 

It  would,  indeed,  be  very  trying  to  Joseph, 
who  thus  expected  to  rise  to  honour  and  dignity, 
to  be  sold  by  his  brethren  as  a  slave,— to  lie  year 
after  year  in  prison, — to  suffer  the  sorrows  of  ab- 
sence from  his  father, — and  to  hear  the  reviUngs 


THE    RIGHTEOUS    GOVERNOR.  157 

of  the  heathen  against  his  God.  But  he  relied 
on  the  Divine  testimony,  he  cast  his  care  on  the 
Being  who  supports  the  universe,  and  waited,  in 
the  exercise  of  hope,  for  the  day  when  he  should 
"see  the  goodness  of  the  Lord  in  the  land  of  the 
living." 

Ttie  blessed  God  very  frequently  instructs  us 
in  his  sovereignty,  his  wisdom,  and  his  power, 
by  tfie  disappointments  he  allows  us  to  expe- 
rience, and  the  manner  in  which  he  ultimately 
delivers  us  from  our  trials.  When  Joseph  in 
prison  had  interpreted  the  dream  of  Pharaoh's 
chief  butler,  and  foretold  his  restoration  to  hon- 
our, he  very  naturally  expected  that  by  his  means 
he  should  be  brought  out  of  prison,  and  that  his 
innocence  would  be  vindicated  ;  but  he  was  mis- 
taken  ;  all  this  was  forgotten  ;  the  butler  was  un- 
grateful, and  Joseph  for  two  long  years  yet  re- 
mained a  prisoner.  Perhaps  he  had  now  begun 
to  expect  that  here  he  must  die  ;  but,  behold,  Je- 
hovah works  in  his  own  way,  and  in  a  manner 
least  expected  fiis  servant  shal!  be  raised  to  hon- 
our. Little  had  he  imagined  that  the  prison  was 
the  road  to  preferment  ;  and  as  little  would  he 
suppose,  now  that  two  years  had  elapsed  from 
the  event,  that  his  interpretation  of  the  butler's 
dream  would  bring  him  before  Pharaoh. 

In  more  instances  than  on3  has  the  Governor 
14* 


158  THE    RIGHTEOUS    GOVERNOR. 

of  the  world  employed  the  most  unlikely  means, 
and  selected  what  have  appeared  the  most  im- 
siiitahle  persons,  to  accomplish  his  purposes. 
Had  we  lived  when  the  Saviour  was  on  earth, 
knowii)2^  he  had  determined  to  appoint  a  numher 
of  persons  to  publish  his  o^ospel,  we  should  have 
expected  that  lie  would  have  chosen  men  oi  in- 
fl'uetice,  of  talent,  and  of  learning  to  have  perform- 
ed so  i^reat  a  work  ;  hut  instead  of  this,  that  the 
cause  might  appear  entirely  his  own,  he  chose 
the  foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound  those 
that  were  wise,  and  the  weak  thino:sof  the  world 
to  put  to  nought  those  that  were  strong.  Had  we 
lived  in  the  days  of  Pharaoh,  we  should  have  act- 
ed like  him,  and  have  fled  to  the  magicians  for 
an  interpretation  of  our  dreams.  Had  we  been 
in  the  place  of  Nebuchadnezzar,  we  hod  gone  to 
the  wise  men  of  Babylon  for  help.  But  n\  all 
these  cases  God  had  resolved  to  make  his  own 
character  known,  and  to  bring  his  servants  to 
honour.  The  illustration  of  this  remark  in  the 
case  of  .Joseph  is  very  striking.  The  kirg  of 
Egypt  shall  be  troubled  on  his  throne,  th.it  the 
prisoner  Joseph  may  be  promoted  to  dignity; — 
the  magicians  shall  be  confounded  that  Je'iovah 
may  b^  glorified. 

Ill  the  days  of  ant'qnity,  Pharaoh  was  a  nnme 
taken  by  all  the  sovereigns  of  Egypt,  as  Caesar 


THE    RIGHTEOUS    GOVERNOR.  159 

was  ill  after-tiiwes  adopted  by  the  emperors  of 
Rome,  and  Czar  by  those  of  Russia.  The  reign- 
inormo  arch  of  E^fypt  in  the  days  of  Joseph  was 
one  night  much  troubled  by  dreams.  In  this 
manner,  intimntions  had  been  i^iven  him  of  an 
approaching  supply  of  corn,  whicli  should  be 
succeeded  by  a  famine,  that  should  last  for  the 
long  period  of  seven  years.  Such,  however, 
were  the  precise  means  employed  to  convey  this 
information,  that  the  magicians,  with  all  their 
wisdom,  were  unable  to  explain  them.  And  now 
that  the  chief  butler  saw  it  would  please  his 
sovereign,  and  promote  his  own  interest,  he  states 
his  recollection  of  his  foimer  improper  conduct 
which  led  his  kini>-  to  throw  him  into  prison  ;  he 
informs  his  royal  master  that  his  restoration  to 
office  had  been  foretold  by  a  fellow-prisoner,  and 
intimates  the  probability  that  lie  could  interpret  in 
like  manner  the  dream  of  the  king.  Self-inter- 
est will  sometimes  lead  us  to  discharge  duties 
which,  on  other  accounts,  we  should  entirely 
neglect  :  so  in  this  instance,  "the  chief  butler 
remembered  not  Joseph,  but  forcrat  liim  ;"  but 
when  he  saw  the  probability  of  promoting  his 
own  advantaofe  by  it,  he  introduces  his  name  to 
the  notice  of  the  monarch. 

It  is  with  great  pleasure  that  we  hear  the  com- 
mand for  the  appearance  of  Joseph   before  Pha- 


160  THE    RIGHTEOUS    GOVERIVOR. 

raoh  ;   and,  in   imagination,  we  accompany  him 
with  feelings  of  tlie  deepest  interest.     We   see 
him  display,    on  this  occasion,  the  siime  spirit  of 
piety  and  humihty  which  had  distinguished  him 
through  life.     When  the  monarch  tells  him  the 
report  he  has  heard  of  his  wisdom,  and  express- 
es a  confidence  that   he  can   interpret  the  dream 
he  has  had,   Joseph  replies   with   singular  mo- 
desty and  simplicity  of  heart,   "  It  is  not  in  me  : 
God  shall  give  Pharaoh  an   answer  of   peace." 
Intimating  by  this  language,   that  he  was  but  a 
man,  like  the  magicians  ;  and  if,  as  he  expected, 
he  could  be  the  means  of  interpreting  the  dreams 
of  Pharaoh,  the  honour  would  be  due  to  God, 
and  not  to  himself     Having  laid  the  foundaiioa 
of  bis  work  in  piety,  we  are  neither  surprised  at 
his  succeeding  in    interpreting  the  dreams,  or  at 
his  being  raised  to  the  highest  dignity  he  could 
possibly  enjoy.     We  seem  to  walk  in  the  proces- 
sion, when  Joseph  is  exaUed  in  the  sight  of  the 
people  ;  we  almost  join   in    their   acclamations, 
and  feel  satisfaction  and  confidence  in  the  thought 
that  the  affairs  of  the  state  will  gro  on  well.seeinof 
that  the  king  has  a  minister  "in  whom  the  Spirit 
of  God  is." 

It  seldom  happens  when  a  man  is  suddenly 
raised  from  an  obscure  station  in  life  to  the  pos- 
session of  great  honours,  that  he  maintains  a  hum- 


THE    RIGHTEOUS    GOVERNOR.  161 

ble  spirit.  The  best  of  men  are  but  frail  and  im- 
perfect creatures,  easily  elevated  above  them- 
selves, and  forgetting  for  a  time  the  emptiness  of 
earthly  good.  It  is  only  the  individual  who  ful- 
ly believes  the  word  of  God,  keeps  near  to  his 
throne,  and  by  daily  intercourse  with  him  has 
learnt  the  superior  value  of  the  world  to  ome, 
who  appreciates  the  present  state  as  he  ought. 
Happily  for  JosepI),  grace  was  given  him  corres- 
ponding to  his  station,  and  when  raised  to  occu- 
py the  seat  of  dignity  next  to  his  sovereign,  he 
continued  to  manifest  his  accustomed  humility. 
He  was  still  a  man  of  prayer,  yet  attended  to  the 
all-important  duties  of  religion,  ruled  his  family 
in  the  fear  of  God,  and  impressed  on  the  minds 
of  his  servants  the  knowledge  of  Jehovah.  In 
all  this  he  sets  a  very  proper  example  of  the  way 
in  which  they  should  act  who  have  to  conduct 
the  affairs  of  the  state.  Tliey  must  not  plead 
their  want  of  time  to  attend  to  the  important  con- 
cerns of  eternity,  seeinji*  that  Joseph,  who  was 
so  fully  occupied  in  the  affairs  of  a  vast  empire^ 
could  discharge  the  superior  claims  of  devotion 
and  religion.  The  first  things  to  be  attended  to, 
are  the  duties  we  owe  to  God  ;  and  if  we  devote 
this  time  to  other  pursuits,  we  rob  him  of  his  just 
demands. 

Every  station  and  office  we  can  fill  has  its  pe- 


162  THE    RIGHTEOUS    GOVERNOR. 

culiar  temptations,  and  furnishes  opportunities 
for  the  display  of  human  depravity,  as  well  as  the 
exercise  of  Christian  graces.  The  splendours  of 
a  court,  and  association  with  the  great,  are  un- 
favourable to  pnre  undefiled  religion.  Notwith- 
standing all  the  piety  of  Joseph,  we  find  him  im- 
properly marrying  the  daughter  of  an  idolatrous 
priest.  Such  a  marriage  would  bring  with  it  its 
own  punishment,  both  in  the  happiness  of  which 
it  deprived  him,  and  which  he  would  have  en- 
joyed had  his  wife  possessed  the  spirit  of  piety 
like  himself,  and  in  the  positive  sufferings  it 
would  inflict.  The  conduct  of  Joseph  in  this  in- 
stance cannot  be  justified,  and  to  it  we  must  prob- 
ably attribute  his  improper  conduct  on  a  subse- 
qui^nt  occasion,  when'  we  find  him  profanely 
swearing  by  the  life  of  Pharaoh.  How  necessa- 
ry the  prayer  taught  us  by  the  Saviour,  ^'Lead 
us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil." 
The  diligence  of  Joseph  in  travelling  through- 
out the  land  of  Egypt,  and  the  integrity  and  pru- 
dence he  manifested,  in  buying  and  storing  up  the 
corn,  must  excite  our  admiration.  And  when 
the  famine  commenced,  instead  of  leaving  the 
sale  of  corn  to  others,  as  he  noight  have  done,  he 
superintended  it  himself  In  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  he  manifested  no  partiality.  When  his 
brethren  came,  and  he  Well  knew  them,  he  per- 


THE    RIGHTEOUS    GOVERNOR.  163 

formed  his  duty  as  a  governor,  taking  care  to  sa- 
tisfy all  around  him  that  he  would  not  allow  any 
who  might  be  suspected  of  being  spies,  or  enemies 
of  Pharaoh,  to  be  fed  wiih  the  provisions  which 
had  been  reserved  only  for  his  friends.  And 
when,  after  a  series  of  years,  his  father,  with  his 
brethren,  and  their  families,  came  to  take  up  their 
residence  in  Egypt,  he  did  not  allow  them  to  live 
in  idleness  as  pensioners  on  the  state,  but  placed 
them  in  a  situation  where  they  could  both  obtain 
their  own  livelihood,  and  contribute  to  the  wel- 
fare of  the  country.  In  all  this  he  manifested  a 
fine  and  noble  spirit,  and  shewed  the  happy  ten- 
dency of  religious  principles  to  make  their  pos- 
sessors a  blessing  to  society. 

In  investigating  the  character  of  Joseph  as  the 
ruler  of  Egypt,  it  is  proper  we  should  notice  a 
charge  which  has  been  preferred  against  him, 
by  some  who  are  ever  anxious  to  point  out  defects 
in  the  character  of  those  who  profess  godliness. 
It  has  been  said  thai  Joseph  acted  improperly 
in  depriving  the  Egyptians  of  their  liberties,  by 
requiring  them  to  give  up  their  lands,  and,  after 
that,  their  personal  services,  to  Pharaoh,  in  order 
that  they  might  possess  the  food  necessary  to 
maintain  their  existence.  But,  surely,  the  per- 
sons who  have  preferred  this  charge  have  never 
fairly  and  fully  examined  the  account.     Let  it  be 


164  THE    RIGHTEOUS    GOVERNOR. 

remembered  that  the  s^overnment  of  Egypt  was 
essentially  diiFerent  to  the  constitution  of  the  hap- 
py country  in  which  we  live.  The  dominion 
of  Pharaoh  was  altogether  arbitrary  ;  the  people 
had  no  voice  m  making  the  laws,  but  were  compel- 
led to  obey  them,  even  though  they  merely  result- 
ed from  the  caprices  of  their  sovereign  ;  nor  had 
they  or  their  rulers  any  just  notions  of  liberty,  a 
blessing  which  has  only  been  enjoyed  in  coun- 
tries where  the  religion  of  the  Bible  has  prevail- 
ed. Let  it  also  be  taken  into  the  account,  that 
for  the  land  and  the  people  to  become  the  prop- 
erty of  the  kino:,  was  the  offer  of  the  people  them- 
selves, and  not  the  proposal  of  Joseph  ;  and  once 
more,  though  they  were  accepted  by  Joseph  at 
the  time,  yet  he  afterwards  restored  four-  fifths 
of  the  produce  of  the  land  to  the  people,  reserving 
one-fifth  only  for  Pharaoh;  no  more  than  is  at 
present  paid  by  the  inhabitants  of  some  countries 
for  the  expenses  of  the  state.  It  is  certain  that  the 
Egyptians  were  highly  pleased  with  the  conduct 
of  their  ruler  ;  and,  in  such  a  case,  they  must  be 
allowed  to  have  been  the  best  judges. 

However  wisely  a  ruler  may  discharge  the  du- 
ties of  his  office,  and  however  great  a  blessing  he 
may  be  to  society,  a  period  must  arrive  when 
death  shall  strip  him  of  his  robes,  and  lay  him 
in  the  silent  grave.     For  about  eighty  years  did 


THE    RIGHTEOUS    GOVERNOR.  165 

loseph  preside,  under  the  monarch,  over  the 
affairs  of  Egypt ;  but  he  at  length  died,  at  an  ad- 
vanced age,  in  the  exercise  of  firm  faith  in  the 
promises  of  God,  and  amidst  the  regrets  of  his 
children,  his  brethren,  and  the  nation  at  large. 
Happy  the  man  who,  when  he  comes  to  a  death- 
bed, can  repose  on  the  testimony  of  Jehovah, 
and  can  exchange  time  for  eternity,  without  fear 
of  banishment  "  from  the  presence  of  God,  and 
from  the  glory  of  his  power." 

As  we  have  passed  over  the  history  of  this 
amiable  man,  we  have  pointed  out  some  of  the 
lessons  it  was  designed  to  teach.  In  addition  to 
those  already  referred  to,  we  see  the  importance 
of  feeling  entire  resignation  to  the  will  of  God, 
seeing  that  from  the  lowest  degradation  he  can 
raise  us  to  the  highest  honour.  We  learn  with 
what  gratitude  we  ought  to  regard  a  pious  edu- 
cation, which  guards  us  from  so  many  dangers  ; 
and  feel  that  he  is  tlie  wisest  man  who  ever  acts 
in  obedience  to  the  law  of  God,  and  ever  seeks 
to  him  for  direction  in  all  his  ways. 


15 


THE   MISTAKEN  SAINT. 


Blind  unbelief  is  sure  to  eir, 
And  scan  his  work  in  vain ; 
God  is  his  own  interpreter, 
And  he  will  make  it  plain. 


COWPER. 


It  is  both  interesting  and  profitable  to  review 
tlie  lives  and  sorrows  of  the  people  of  God  in  past 
ages.  As  we  read  of  the  various  incidents  which 
attended  them  through  life,  we  seem  to  possess 
their  feelings,  desire  to  imitate  their  virtues,  and 
are  anxious  to  avoid  their  defects.  We  feel 
sympathy  with  them  in  their  sorrows,  and  as  we 
see  them  pouring  out  their  griefs  before  a  throne 
of  grace,  and  deriving  support  from  "  the  God  of 
all  consolation,"  we  rejoice  that  we  have  the 
same  Father  to  flee  to,  the  same  arguments  to 
plead  before  him,  and  the  same  encouragement 
to  expect  a  gracious  attention  to  our  prayers. 

Few  of  the  patriarchs  present  a  more  interest- 
ing character  for  our  contemplation  than  Jacob. 
iHe  was  a  man  of  genuine  worth.     That  he  was 


THE    MISTAI^EN    SAINT.  167 

the  subject  of  many  imperfections  we  cannot  de- 
ny, but  that  he  eminently  displayed  many  virtues 
is  equally  evident.  We  may  profit  greatly  by 
the  account  given  us  of  his  errors  and  mistakes ; 
and  it  will  be  happy  for  us  if  the  review  of  his 
improprieties  should  guard  us  from  falling  into 
them  ourselves. 

The  view  which  even  the  good  man  takes  of 
the  divine  conduct  is  often  very  contracted  j 
there  remains  in  the  hearts  of  even  the  best  men, 
a  spirit  of  depravity,  prone  to  misinterpret,  and 
murmur  against  the  providence  of  God  ;  while 
Jehovah  is  pleased  to  clothe  his  dealings  with  us 
m  mystery.  These  things  may  account  for 
Jacob  saying,  on  the  occasion  to  which  our  at- 
tention is  now  directed,  "  All  these  things  are 
against  me." 

Language  like  this  it  is  painful  to  hear,  and  the 
man  who  utters  it  must  surely  be  in  very  dis- 
tressinar  circumstances.  What !  Is  all  darkness  ? 
Are  there  no  light  clouds  in  the  horizon  ?  Is 
there  no  sweetness  in  the  cup  of  sorrow  ?  Was 
there  nothing  to  comfort  him  amidst  his  disas- 
ters ?  Of  light  and  comfort  he  will  not  hear  ;  he 
yields  to  the  influence  of  despondency,  and  says, 
«'  All  these  things  are  against  me." 

And  who  that  considers  his  trials  can  be  sur- 
prised at  the  exclamation?     Look   at  him   in 


168  THE    MISTAKEN    SAIKT. 

youth; — exiled  from  the  house  of  an  indulgfenfi 
father,  and  a  still  more  affectionate  mother, — 
called  to  endure  the  persecution  of  a  wicked  bro- 
ther,— compelled  to  labour  as  a  servant  for  his 
food, — and  oppressed  by  his  master,  who  owed 
him  every  display  of  kindness.  See  him  in  mid- 
dle age  ; — when  he  enters  on  the  enjoyments  of 
domestic  life,  he  loses  his  beloved  Rachel,  and 
then  his  darling  Joseph.  No  wonder  that  he 
thinks  all  things  are  opposed  to  his  happiness. 

His  present  condition  too  is  painful,  and  seems 
to  justify  the  language.  It  had  been  well  if  his 
sorrows  had  past,  and  brighter  prospects  opening 
before  him.  But  the  present  is  painful,  and  the 
future  gloomy.  He  has  a  family  of  ungodly 
children,  who  pierce  his  heart  through  with  many 
sorrows  ; — he  is  threatened  with  poverty  ; — his 
son  Simeon  has  just  been  taken  from  him,  and 
he  dreads  the  worst ;  he  begins  to  bend  under 
the  infirmities  of  age  ; — and  he  is  called  upon  to 
give  up  his  beloved  Benjamin  ;  in  a  word,  he 
thinks  his  grey  hairs  are  liastcning  in  sorrow  ta 
the  grave.  And  who,  then,  can  wonder  at  his 
exclaiming,  "  All  these  things  are  against  me?" 

But  yet  he  was  mistaken.  His  views  were 
not  correct.  Had  v/hat  he  said  been  true,  it  was 
calculated  to  humble  him,  and  should  have  led 
to  sorrow,  on  account  of  sin.     We  have  no  right 


THE   MISTAKEN   SAINT.  1G9 

to  complain  of  the  dispensations  of  Jehovah,  how- 
ever severe  ;  for  "  wherefore  should  a  living  man 
complain,  a  man  for  the  punishment  of  his 
sins  ■?"  If  we  set  ourselves  against  God,  we 
ought  not  to  murmur  if  his  providence  is  against 
us.  But  the  language  is  that  of  mistake.  These 
things  were  not  against  him  ;  they  would  not 
bear  him  down  to  the  grave.  Let  him  look  over 
his  life  again.  If  he  had  been  exiled  from  home, 
the  Lord  had  found  him  another  and  a  better  ; 
if  he  had  laboured,  the  Supreme  Governor  had 
given  him  a  reward  ;  if  he  had  been  persecuted, 
he  had  also  been  supported  under  it ;  if  he  had 
been  oppressed,  the  Divine  hand  had  interposed 
in  his  favour  ;  if  Jehovah  had  taken  away  his  be- 
loved Rachel,  he  had  given  Himself;  and  if  Joseph 
be  indeed  gone,  he  shall  see  him,  and  his  endear- 
ed Rachel,  and  each  of  his  pious  friends,  in  a  future 
world.  Let  him  look  at  his  present  state  ;  and, 
if  poverty  threatens  him  with  its  approach,  is  not 
God  also  at  his  right  hand  ?  If  liis  children  are 
wicked,  and  he  cannot  accuse  himself  of  neo-- 
I'ect,  or  of  improper  indulgences  extended  to 
them,  why  should  he  be  so  much  discouraged? 
If  Joseph,  and  Simeon,  and  Benjamin  are  all  re- 
moved, all  is  under  the  superintendence  of  Him 
who  must  do  right.  And  what  a  mistake  in  re- 
ference to  the  future  !  The  dark  clouds,  that 
now  hover  over  him, 

15* 


170  THE    MISTAKEN   SAINT',. 

"  Arebi°^  with  mercy,  and  shall  break 
In  blessings  on  liis  head." 

Joseph  is  yet  alive, — Simeon  shall  soon  be 
free, — Benjamin  is  about  to  be  elevated  to  ho- 
nour,— and  a  fine  old  age  of  peace  and  happiness 
awaits  the  patriarch  himself.  Ah,  what  mistaken 
views  do  the  people  of  God  form,  when  they  say, 
*^  All  these  things  are  against  me  I"  No  such 
thing :  all  work  together  for  good  to  those  who 
love  God.  All  was  now  tending  to  accomplish 
the  infinitely  wise  plans  of  Jehovah,  to  make 
Jacob's  family  happy,  and  '•'  to  save  much  people 
alive." 

Christians  now  make  the  same  mistake  that 
Jacob  did,  when  afflictions  overtake  them,  and 
Borrows  seem  to  oppress  their  souls.  But  they 
are  wrong  ;  for  they  are  designed  to  sanctify 
their  hearts,  to  teach  them  the  sinfulness  and 
vanity  of  the  world,  to  endear  to  them  the  pro- 
mises of  infinite  love,  and  to  prepare  them  for 
the  enjoyments  of  the  heavenly  state. 

But  this  mistake  of  Jacob  was  not  only  a  great,. 
but  a  criminal  one.  Most  of  our  errors  are  of  a 
sinful  character,  and  those  which  resemble  this 
are  very  criminaL  The  language  of  Jacob  seem- 
ed to  reflect  on  the  Divine  character.  Is  not 
God  the  friend  and  the  father  of  his  people  ? 
Does  he  not  love  them,  and  can  he  change  in 


THE    MISTAKEN   SAINT.  171' 

the  purposes  of  his  grace  towards  them?  Why- 
should  such  a  thought  be  indulged  ?  Has  he 
not  said,  "  I,  the  Lord,  change  not  ?"  And  does 
he  not  possess  all  the  power  we  need  to  protect 
us,  and  which  is  requisite  to  accomplish  the  de- 
signs of  his  love?  Has  he  not  the  wisdom  which 
can  convert  our  sorest  trials  into  the  greatest  be- 
nefits ?  Has  he  not  always  delivered  us,  and 
would  it  not  be  our  wisest  plan  to  say,  "  He,  wha 
hath  delivered,  will  yet  deliver?"  Why,  because 
all  is  dark  and  enveloped  in  misery,  should  we 
encourage  our  fears  ?  If  we  loved  God  as  we 
ought  to  do,  we  should  indulge  a  confidence  that 
he  would  direct  all  for  our  good. 

Farther,  the  language  of  Jacob  breathed  a 
spirit  of  disbelief  of  the  Divine  promises.  God 
had  expressly  assured  him  that,  in  all  places 
where  he  went,  he  would  be  with  him,  and  that 
he  would  never  leave  him  till  he  had  accom- 
plished all  the  purposes  of  his  mercy  towards 
him.  Jacob  had  acted  wisely  for  his  own  hap- 
piness, and  honourably  towards  his  Creator,  had 
he  believed  this,  and  allowed  the  whole  of  his 
conduct  to  bo  influenced  by  it.  This,  howevefy 
was  not  the  case  ;  and  in  this  respect  the  people 
of  Jehovah  are  ever  too  much  like  him.  What 
room  for  repentance  and  humility  !  This  cri- 
minal cmiduct  was  not  confined  to   the  persoiik 


172  THE    MISTAKEN   SAINT. 


or  the  times  of  Jacob.  Though  tlie  Lord  has 
ever  been  kind  to  his  people,  we  have  hearts  dis- 
posed to  murmur  against  all  his  arrangements, 
and  to  say  that  all  is  against  us  ;  when,  if  we 
could  see  the  whole  of  his  designs,  we  should 
know  the  reverse  to  be  true. 

Let  us  cast  a  glance  towards  Jacob  when  "the 
mystery  of  God"  towards  him  "  is  finished,"  and 
he  is  comfortably  settled  in  Goshen.  Would  he 
not  now  be  ashamed  that  ever  he  encouraged  the 
feelings  of  despondency,  or  entertained  hard 
thoughts  of  God  ?  Would  he  not  be  concerned 
to  humble  himself  before  the  Author  of  his  mer- 
cies, who  had  raised  him  above  all  his  fears  ! 
Oh  what  gratitude  must  lie  feel  to  that  Being 
who  had  been  his  friend  amidst  so  many  mur- 
mur ings,  and  notwithstanding  so  much  impro- 
priety of  conduct  !  His  future  hopes  would  be 
encouraged  by  a  recollection  of  what  God  had 
done  for  him.  And  he  would  be  concerned  to 
encourage  his  children,  and  his  children's  chil- 
dren, to  let  their  foith  and  hope  be  in  God.  Let 
it  be  the  solicitude  of  each  of  my  readers  in  this 
respect  to  imitate  the  venerable  patriarch. 

"  All  things,"  saith  an  inspired  apostle,  "  work 
together  for  good  to  those  who  love  God,  to 
them  who  are  the  called  according  to  his  pur- 
pose."    The  grand  inquiry  then  is,  do  we  love 


THE    MISTAKEN    SAINT.  173 

him  ?  If  so,  we  have  nothing  to  fear,  for  He  is 
our  friend,  his  providence  is  on  our  side,  and 
nothing  can  be  against  us.  But  if  we  have  no 
love  to  Him,  nothing  can  he  for  us,  but  all  must 
be  armed  in  opposition  to  us.  Let  us  seek  an 
interest  in  his  mercy,  and  we  shall  then  sing  for 
ever,  ^'  He  hatii  done  all  things  well  !" 

And  before  we  finally  leave  this  subject,  let  U3 
humbly  resolve,  in  the  strength  of  Divine  grace, 
to  trust  God  more  tlian  we  have  hitherto  done, 
even  when  his  conduct  is  enveloped  in  mystery; 
let  us  weep  over  our  past  mistakes  and  ingrati- 
tude ;  and  let  us  encourage  our  friends  to  place 
their  fiiith  and  hope  in  Him  with  whom  there  is 
everlasting  strengths 


THE   DYING   PATRIARCH. 

GEX.   XLVIII.    XLIX. 

Yet  mortal  life  is  sad  ; 

Perpetual  storms  molest  its  sullen  sky, 

And  sorrows,  ever  rife, 

Drain  the  sacred  fountain  dry. 

Away  with  mortal  life  \ 

But  hail  the  calm  reality, 

The  seraph  Immortality  ! 

H;  K.  White. 

What  subject  is  more  interesting  or  impressive 
than  death  ?  It  is  a  solemn  event  that  concerns 
us  all — a  change  which  mankind  must  univer- 
sally undergo.  In  whatever  situation  men  may 
be  placed,  whatever  station  they  may  fill,  what- 
ever riches  or  honours  they  may  possess,  they 
cannot  be  exempted  from  his  stroke.  And  what 
is  death  ?  It  is  that  which  benumbs  all  our  fa- 
culties, stops  the  blood  in  its  progress,  and  com- 
mands the  machine  of  life  to  stand  still ;  it  is  that 
which  separates  us  from  the  scenes  we  loved, 
from  the  dearest  and  tenderest  connexions  we 


THE    DYING    PATRIARCH.  17'5 

have  formed,  and  shuts  our  eyes  and  our  hearts 
against  all  that  we  see  ;  it  is  that  which,  leading 
us  from  a  world  of  changes,  introduces  us  to  the 
awful  bar  of  Jehovah,  there  to  hear  our  unchang- 
ing and  eternal  destiny.  And,  surely,  a  subject 
so  supremely  important,  and  so  profoundly  in- 
teresting, ought  to  occupy  much  of  our  thoughts, 
and  excite  the  most  serious  inquiries  as  to  our 
prospects  hereafter.  But  alas  !  though  we  are 
surrounded  by  shadows  which  are  rapidly  flee- 
ing away,  and  are  travelling  to  a  world  of  reali- 
ties that  shall  remain  for  ever  the  same,  our 
hearts  dwell  on  the  present  scenes,  and  almost 
forget  the  future.  The  subject  of  death,  nay  the 
very  sound  of  it,  is  banished  from  the  circles  of 
polite  society  ;  but  alas  !  the  event  must  happen, 
to  the  high  as  well  as  to  the  low  ;  and  though 
they  may  refuse  to  reflect  on  his  approach,  they 
cannot  hinder  his  progress  or  ward  off  his  stroke. 
Surely  then  it  becomes  us  more  frequently  to 
dwell  on  the  thoughts  of  this  great  change,  and 
to  anticipate  the  arrival  of  this  mighty  enemy  ; 
having  our  lamps  trimmed,  that  we  may  not  be 
taken  at  unawares,  and  our  loins  girt  about  with 
truth,  ready  to  engage  in  the  solemn  conflict. 
And  especially  should  this  be  the  case  when  we 
observe  that  the  subject  is  so  frequently  intro- 
duced, and  occupies  so  prominent  a  place  in  the 


176  THE    DYING    PATRIARCH. 

sacred  volume.  We  may  rest  assured  that  if  we 
cannot  bear  to  contemplate  death  at  a  distance, 
there  is  something  about  us  awfully  wrong,  and 
indeed  that  we  are  unprepared  for  his  nearer  ap- 
proach. 

Though  death  was  originally  inflicted  on  the 
human  race  as  a  punishment  on  account  of  sin, 
it  is  in  some  instances  overruled,  and  converted 
into  a  blessing.  The  best  of  men,  v/ith  one  or 
two  exceptions,  have  submitted  to  its  stroke  ;  but 
in  their  case  it  has  been  a  deliverance  from  sor- 
rows and  from  pains,  and  an  introduction  to  a 
world  where  all  is  joy  and  happiness.  The 
same  event,  as  to  the  fact  and  agony  of  dying, 
happens  to  the  righteous  and  the  wicked,  but  the 
consequences  of  death  in  the  two  cases  are  infi- 
nitely different :  the  one  is  removed  to  a  world 
of  immortal  joys;  the  other  falls  into  the  re- 
gions of  eternal  despair. 

The  various  events  in  the  life  of  the  venerable 
Jacob  were  intcrestinor  and  instructive.  We  see 
in  his  character  a  mixture  both  of  excellences 
and  defects  of  no  comnjon  order ;  in  his  state,  a 
series  of  trials  and  of  comforts  that  occur  in  the 
history  of  but  few  men  ;  and  in  his  general  ex- 
perience we  have  a  most  lively  and  impressive 
commhintary  on  his  own  words,  when  in  reply 
to  the  question  of  Pharaoh,  "  How  old  art  thou  ?" 


THE    DYING    PATRIARCH.  177 

he  says,  "  The  days  of  the  years  of  my  pilgrimage 
are  an  hundred  and  thirty  years :  few  and  evil 
have  the  days  of  my  life  been."  But  the  scene 
is  now  to  close,  and  the  sorrows  of  his  life  are  to 
have  an  end.  Conducted  by  the  inspired  writer, 
let  us  visit  his  dying  bed,  hear  his  last  senti- 
ments, listen  to  his  closing  prayer,  and  mark  the 
spirit  with  which  he  exchanges  worlds.  The 
death  of  a  man  who  for  a  long  series  of  years 
has  received  peculiar  mercies  at  the  hands  of 
God,  must  be  instructive  ;  let  us  learn  the  lessons 
it  is  adapted  to  teach, — let  us  behold  the  advan- 
tages of  religion  in  the  article  of  death, — let  us 
see  his  eyes  closed  upon  all  sublunary  objects, 
and  follow  in  imagination  the  disembodied  spirit 
to  the  throne  of  God. 

In  reading  his  life,  as  recorded  by  Moses,  it 
would  appear,  that  for  several  years  before  his 
death  he  had  little  to  do  with  the  world  :  the 
temporal  affairs  of  his  family  he  probably  left  to 
be  settled  by  his  sons,  while  he  fixed  more  in- 
tently his  thoughts  on  the  immortal  state  that 
was  now  opening  to  his  view.  It  is  lamentable 
when  we  see  old  men,  tottering  on  the  verge  of 
eternity,  all  anxiety  about  the  concerns  of  time, 
and  careless  in  reference  to  that  world  between 
which  and  thetn  there  is  but  a  single  step. 
Happily  for  Jacob,  the  grace  of  God  had  taught 
16 


178  THE    DYING    PATRIARCH. 

him  better.  In  an  interview  with  Joseph,  he 
caused  him  to  swear  that  he  would  lay  his  bones 
in  the  same  tomb  with  those  of  Abraham  and 
Sarah,  and  the  rest  of  his  beloved  connexions,  as 
having  already  made  his  grave  there,  and  being 
like  them  desirous  of  inhabiting  the  land  of  pro- 
mise ;  and  having  been  assured  that  this  should 
be  the  case,  he  bowed  on  the  head  of  his  bed, 
blessing  the  God  of  his  mercies  for  such  a  pros- 
pect, and  lor  a  son  so  willing  to  fulfil  his  de- 
sires. 

Not  long  after  this,  his  last  illness  overtook 
him;  his  bodily  and  mental  powers  rapidly  fail- 
ed, and  indications   were  given  that  the  end  of 
mortality  was  at  hand.     The  whole  family  were 
filled  with  anxious  forebodings  :  every  one  began 
to  review  his  conduct  towards  his  dying  parent ; 
and  many  a  tear  started  from  the  e^^es  of  some  of 
his  sons,  as  their  memories  placed   before  them 
the  many  acts  of  disobedience  they  had  commit- 
ted, and  the  many  instances  of  unkindness  they 
had  shewn  him.     The  period  of  separation  from 
our  friends  should  lead  us  to  reflection,  and  to  re- 
pentance on  account  of  our  improprieties  ;   while 
it  should  be  our  wish  to  administer  to  their  com- 
fort as  long  as  they  may  be  spared  to  us,  and  to 
smooth  their  dying  pillows  as  they  depart  hence. 
Such  was  the  conduct  of  Jacob's  sons  towards 


THE    DYING    PATRIARCH.  179 

him :  whatever  might  have  been  the  previous 
conduct  of  some  of  them,  they  now  felt  as  it  be- 
came them  to  feel. 

The  affecting  intelligence  of  his  father's  ill- 
ness was  soon  conveyed  to  Joseph,  his  beloved 
son,  who,  though  he  was  full  of  business,  and 
surrounded  with  the  cares  of  a  mighty  kingdom, 
at  once  resolved  to  shew  the  regard  he  possessed 
for  a  parent  who  had  ever  been  eminently  con- 
cerned for  his  welfare.  And  because  he  would 
teach  his  beloved  sons  Manasseh  and  Ephraim 
the  worth  of  true  religion  by  example  as  well  as 
by  precept,  and  that  they  might  have  the  dying 
prayers  and  blessings  of  their  venerable  grand- 
father, he  took  them  with  him.  It  is  well  for 
young  persons  to  attend  the  bed  of  death,  as  it 
reads  them  an  impressive  lecture  on  their  morta- 
lity ;  and  especially  is  it  desirable  they  should 
visit  the  last  scenes  of  those  who  have  long  tasted 
the  grace  of  God,  as  they  learn  here  in  a  most 
delightful  manner  the  value  of  genuine  religion, 
in  supporting  the  mind  under  the  agonies  of  dis- 
solution, and  enabling  the  soul  without  dismay 
to  enter  on  the  conflict  with  the  last  enemy,  se- 
cure of  the  victory,  though  in  the  struggle  he 
may  lay  down  his  life.  Oh!  there  is  something 
infinitely  superior  to  anything  that  earth  can 
give,  when  the  aged  Christian,  with  a  soul  full 


180  THE    DYING    PATRIARCH, 

of  the  calm  peace  of  Heaven,  can  siiig  with  our 
poet, 

Then,  while  ye  hear  my  heart  strings  break, 

How  sweet  my  minutes  roll ! 
A  mortal  paleness  on  my  cheek, 

And  glory  in  my  soul  ! 

Let  us  draw  near,  with  his  children,  to  the 
bed  of  the  dying  patriarch.  One  hundred  and 
forty-seven  years  has  he  lived  in  our  world  ; 
during  that  period  he  has  found  the  path  of  life 
to  be  chequered  with  pleasures  and  disappoint- 
ments. His  observation  and  experience  must 
have  qualified  him  to  give  us  many  an  important 
lesson.  For  a  large  portion  of  this  period  he  has 
known  the  religion  of  his  fathers;  he  has  prac- 
tised its  duties,  exemplified  its  spirit,  and  enjoyed 
its  privileges  ;  and  he  is  now  able  to  tell  us  how- 
far  its  promises  have  been  realized,  and  how 
great  a  blessing  it  is  to  the  soul  of  its  possessor. 
Often  has  he  been  surrounded  by  the  tempta- 
tions of  Satan  and  the  snares  of  the  world  :  at 
some  times  he  has  been  drawn  aside  by  them 
from  the  path  of  duty  ;  and,  at  others,  he  has 
been  enabled  to  resist  them.  Let  us  learn  from 
him  the  evil  effects  of  sin,  and  how  by  faith  and 
prayer  we  may  overcome  the  attacks  of  our  ene- 
mies. He  is  just  about  to  enter  an  eternal  world : 
its  solemn  realities  are  rapidly  opening  to  his 


THE    DYING   PATRIARCH.  181 

view,  and  we  may  therefore  rest  on  his  words, 
as  those  of  truth  and  soberness.  Where,  then, 
can  we  go  to  learn  more  impressive  and  impor- 
tant lessons  than  we  can  acquire  at  the  bed  of 
the  dying  saint? 

When  the  beloved  Joseph  enters  the  chamber 
of  his  venerable  father,  he  finds  him  confined  to 
his  bed,  and  rapidly  hastening  to  his  last  hour  ; 
but  while  the  powers  of  his  body  decay,  the  feel- 
ings of  his  soul  towards  God  and  eternal  realities 
are  all  lively.  Religion  survives  every  other  in- 
terest :  it  prospers  even  in  old  age,  and  adminis- 
ters consolation  when  the  world  retires,  unable 
to  bless  its  possessor.  It  has  been  known  to 
flourish  when  the  man  in  whose  heart  it  has  tak- 
en up  its  residence  has  forgotten  all  the  circum- 
stances of  his  life,  and  has  ceased  to  know  his 
nearest  connexions.  Who  can  listen  to  the  lan- 
guage of  Jacob,  as  he  revievv^s  the  divine  dealings 
with  him  and  his  family,  without  weeping?  One 
subject  that  occupies  his  thoughts,  is  the  good- 
ness of  God  towards  him.  He  seems  here  to  en- 
ter on  the  work  of  reviewing  and  praising  God 
for  his  mercies,  a  task  which  shall  employ  him 
throughout  eternity  in  the  heavenly  world.  How 
ardent  his  gratitude,  as  he  speaks  of  the  appear- 
ance of  Jehovah  to  him  at  Luz,  where  he  blessed 
him,  and  gave  him  the  land  of  Canaan  ; — how 
16* 


182  THE    DYING    PATRIARCH. 

does  he  admire  the  Divine  goodness,  which, 
when  he  had  given  np  all  expectations  of  seeing 
his  beloved  Joseph  again,  had  not  only  brought 
him  to  his  dying  pillow,  but  also  his  children 
with  him  ; — with  what  pleasure  does  he  remind 
them  of  the  fact,  that  though  he  died,  God  would 
be  with  them,  and  bring  them  to  the  promised 
land  ; — what  gratification  does  it  administer  to 
his  mind,  that  he  was  calmly  leaving  the  world 
in  the  midst  of  his  children,  and  tliat  the  salva- 
tion he  had  long  waited  for  was  nigh  at  hand  ! 
O,  how  diiferent  this  to  the  departure  of  an  infi- 
del ! — the  man  who,  from  the  consciousness  of 
impending  punishment  for  his  crimes,  shrinks 
from  the  thought  of  appearing  before  his  omnis- 
cient and  all-powerful  Judge.  The  review  of 
his  life  is  awfully  painful,  and  the  anticipation 
of  another  world  unspeakably  distressing. 

But  while  Jacob  manifests  his  gratitude  for  the 
benefits  God  has  conferred  upon  him,  he  shews 
himself  considerably  affected  with  a  review  of  his 
trials.  He  touches  with  exquisite  tenderness  on 
the  affecting  manner  in  which  he  lost  his  belov- 
ed Rachel, — hints  at  his  long  bereavement  of 
Joseph,  and  weeps  over  the  sins  of  his  sons, 
Reuben,  Simeon,  and  Levi.  The  happy  resi- 
dence of  seventeen  years  in  Egypt  has  not  effaced 
the  recollection  of  these  trials  from  his  mind,  and 


THE    DYING    PATRIARCH.  183 

he  mentions  them  both  to  shew  the  sorrow  they 
have  2:iven  him,  and  to  remind  his  children  that 
trials  mnst  be  expected  to  attend  their  path.  Ven- 
erable man  !  thy  sorrows  are  nearly  over  :  ano- 
ther struggle,  and  thou  shalt  take  of  them  an 
eternal  farewell.  One  thing  only  could  adminis- 
ter pain  to  the  dying  servant  of  God  ;  and  this 
was,  that  he  died  not  in  the  land  of  promise,  but 
among  strangers  :  but  on  this  subject  he  is  com- 
forted by  rememberinsf  that  it  matters  little  where 
good  men  die,  seeing  that  God  will  be  with  them, 
to  conduct  them  through  the  short  valley  which 
separates  the  church  of  God  on  earth  from  the 
Mount  Zion  above.  Besides  this,  the  patriarch 
has  his  children  around  him,  and  possesses  the 
assurance  that  his  remains  shall  be  conveyed  to 
the  land  of  Canaan,  and  laid  among  his  beloved 
connexions,  while  his  soul,  before  that  can  occur, 
shall  have  joined  their  pure  and  happy  spirits,  in 
a  purer  and  happier  world. 

Again,  we  remark,  how  lovely  and  impressive 
the  death-bed  of  a  true  believer  !  and  in  what  mi 
amiable  light  does  it  place  the  religion  of  the 
gospel,  which  scatters  the  shades  of  death,  and 
"  brings  life  and  immortality  to  light  ;"  which 
bears  up  the  soul  above  the  world,  and  gives 
heavenly  joys  before  he  leaves  the  earth  I 


184  THE    DYING    PATRIARCH. 

Before  we  quite  forsake  our  clay, 

And  drop  this  heavy  load, 
The  wings  of  love  bear  us  away 

To  see  our  smiling  God- 

Oh,  that  when  we  come  to   die,  the  God  of 
Jacob  may  be  our  God,  and  that  the  consolations 
of  religion  may  be  enjoyed  by  us. 

It  was  the  opinion  of  the  ancients,  that  when 
men  approached  the  confines  of  death,  the  future 
scenes  through  which  their  successors  were  to 
pass  were  revealed  to  them.  This  doctrine  was 
probably  derived  from  the  fact,  that  some  of  the  pa- 
triarchs were  favoured  with  the  spirit  of  prophecy, 
and  were  enabled  to  foretel  future  events.  Certain 
it  is,  that  Jacob  and  some  others  had  such  a  spirit ; 
and  while  he  affectionately  prayed  for  his  chil- 
dren, and  gave  them  his  dying  benediction,  he  dis- 
closed to  them  the  character  of  their  descendants, 
and  the  leading  events  which  should  befal  them 
down  to  the  end  of  time.  It  might  be  pleasing 
and  instructive  to  illustrate  the  prophecies  in  re- 
ference to  each  of  them,  and  shew  how  remark- 
ably they  have  been  fulfilled  ;  but  as  it  would  be 
foreign  to  my  design  in  these  papers,  and  would 
occupy  a  considerable  space,  I  shall  content  my- 
self with  simply  referring  my  reader,  who  wishes 
to  investigate  the  subject,  to  "  Saurin^s  Disser- 
tatio7iSj  Historical^  Critical^  ^'^-j"     Diss.  xli.  5 


THE    DYING    PATRIARCH.  185 

and  to  "  Bishop  NevHon^s  Dissertations  on  the 
Prophecies,^^  Diss.  iv.  ;  where  he  will  be  grati- 
fied by  tracino^  the  connexion  between  prophecy 
and  Providence. 

We  ought  not,  however,  to  omit  the  remark, 
that  while  he  was  thus  utterintr  his  prophecies,  he 
felt  his  2:reat  weakness  of  body  ;  and  imagining 
that  death  was  suddenly  coming  upon  him,  he 
turned  from  the  task  he  was  pursuing,  and,  direct- 
ing Ins  eyes  and  his  heart  to  heaven,  exclaimed, 
"  I  have  waited  for  thy  snlvation,  O  Lord  :"  by 
which  he  expressed  his  faith  in  the  testimony  of 
God,  not  only  as  to  the  temporal  blessings  he 
would  confer  on  his  family,  but  especially  as  to 
the  coming  of  the  Messiah,  to  whom  he  looked, 
as  every  guilty  sinner  must  do,  and  in  w^hose 
name  he  trusted  for  salvation  and  eternal  life.  O, 
how  happy  the  man  who  can  adopt  this  language 
as  his  own ! — who  delays  not  the  concerns  of  his 
soul  till  he  comes  to  adyinof  pillow,  but  is  enabled, 
when  he  takes  a  review  of  his  life,  to  characterize 
it  as  a  continued  waiting  for  the  salvation  of  God  I 
And  how  suitable  a  work  is  prayer  for  the  believ- 
er to  die  engaged  in  !  as  he  lives,  so  should  he 
die,  praying  for  pardon  through  the  atonement  of 
the  orreat  Messiah  :  thus  is  he  fitted  to  enter  on 
the  still  more  delightful  task  of  praise  for  the 
mercies  he  has  received.     Nor  can  we  refrain 


1S6  THE    DYING    PATRIARCH. 

from  admiring  the  spirit  of  affection  which  Jacob 
continues  to  the  last  to  manifest  for  his  children, 
and  the  concern  he  shews  for  their  enjoyment 
of  spiritual  good.  Their  temporal  welfare  was  a 
matter  of  small  importance,  compared  with  the 
spiritual  favours  he  had  enjoyed  as  the  servant  of 
God,  and  with  which  he  must  of  necessity  be  anx- 
ious that  others  should  be  blessed.  Religion  re- 
fines and  expands  the  heart,  and  leads  its  pos- 
sessor to  bind  up  the  spiritual  interests  of  others 
with  his  own.  David  on  a  dying  bed  prayed  for 
the  welfare  of  Solomon,  and  for  the  spread  of  the 
Messiah's  glory  throughout  the  earth. 

Having  thus  discharged  the  last  duties  which 
devolved  upon  him,  and  breathed  forth  the  desires 
of  his  heart  to  God,  the  sacred  writer  tells  us  that, 
"  he  gathered  up  his  feet  into  the  bed,  and  yield- 
ed up  the  ghost,  and  was  gathered  to  his  people." 
With  what  composure  does  he  lay  himself  down  ; 
death  to  him  only  resembles  a  kind  and  gentle 
slumber  ;  or  rather,  while  death  passes  over  him 
as  a  sleep,  it  really  introduces  him  to  the  world 
of  glory :  where  he  meets  such  of  his  family,  who, 
having  been  made  perfect  in  holiness,  have  al- 
ready been  introduced  into  the  paradise  of  God ; 
while  his  body  shall  be  laid  by  the  side  of  his 
friends,  and  his  dust  shall  mingle  with  theirs  till 
the  morninof  of  the  resurrection. 


THE    DYING    PATRIARCH.  187 

How  painful  must  be  the  task  to  the  affection- 
ate Joseph,  to  close  the  eyes  of  such  a  father  ! 
And  what  a  loss  must  the  death  of  such  a  man 
be  to  his  family  and  the  public  at  large  !  His 
prayers  and  his  counsels  would  be  lost.  The 
righteous  would  be  deprived  of  many  encourage- 
ments which  his  recitals  of  instances  of  the  Di- 
vine goodness  towards  him  used  to  impart,  and 
would  often  be  ready  to  sink  into  despondency  ; 
while  the  wicked  would  be  without  the  restraints 
which  his  presence  imposed,  and  would  more 
frequently  fall  into  the  sins  against  which  he 
warned  them.  Jacob  had  wept  when  he  supposed 
Joseph  to  be  dead,  and  his  children  may  well 
indulge  their  griel  when  he  is  really  so.  Me- 
thinks  I  see  Joseph  falling  on  his  father's  neck, 
and,  kissing  him,  bidding  farewell  to  the  delight- 
ful intercourse  he  had  enjoyed  with  him  till  the 
morning  of  the  resurrection,  when  it  shall  be  all 
renewed.  Happy  indeed  are  those  persons,  who, 
possessing  an  interest  in  his  favour,  who  is  "  the 
resurrection  and  the  life,"  can  look  forward  with 
holy  confidence  to  the  period  of  his  second  ad- 
vent, in  the  sweet  expectation  of  resuming  their 
connexion  with  their  beloved  friends,  who  lived 
to  him  on  earth,  and  died  to  see  him  in  all  his  glo- 
ry, as  seated  on  his  heavenly  throne. 

It  is,  however,  a  very  pleasing  thought,  that 


ISS  THE    DYING    PATRIARCH. 

while  the  Supreme  Being  isremovin^^one  of  our 
friends  after  another  to  the  world  of  spirits,  he 
himself  lives,  and  is  ever  ready  to  repair  our  loss- 
es, and  to  raise  up  other  friends  in  the  room  of 
those  he  has  taken  from  us.  We  often  hear  of 
the  death  of  eminent  men,  who  occupied  impor- 
tant stations  in  the  world  and  the  churcl),  and 
we  are  told  that  their  removal  inflicts  an  irrepar- 
able loss  ;  but  is  this  true  ?  Is  not  the  residue  ol 
the  Spirit  with  God  ?  Does  not  he  continue  to 
live?  Cannot  he  raise  up  other  instruments  to 
do  his  work  as  effectually  as  those  whom  he 
takes  away  ?  And  does  he  not  in  fact  do  so  ? 
Was  there  ever  a  period  when  his  cause  stood 
still  for  want  of  instruments  to  carry  it  on  ? 
His  power  is  infinite,  and  his  grace  is  boundless  ; 
why  then  should  we  indultre  in  despair  ? 

The  E<{yptians  were  very  celebrated  for  the 
art  of  embalming  the  bodies  of  their  friends  ;  so 
that  their  very  features  should  long  be  recoo^nis- 
ed,  and  their  forms  continue  uninjured  for  many 
centnries.  It  is  probable  that  a  sort  of  necessity 
first  led  to  this  practice  among  them.  On  ac- 
count of  the  Nile  so  frequently  inundating  a  very 
large  portion  of  their  country,  the  bodies  of  their 
friends  would  he  washed  away  ;  hence  they  de- 
vised means  to  preserve  them  from  putrefaction  : 
in  which  case  they  frequently  preserved   them 


THE    DYING    PATRIARCH.  189 

Bven  in  their  own  houses.  This  was  at  once  a 
token  of  respect  to  the  dead,  and  a  matter  of  gra- 
tification to  the  living.  Jacob  was  embalmed  by- 
Joseph's  physicians  ;  and  after  the  nsual  period 
for  making  preparations  was  elapsed,  the  fami- 
ly set  out  with  the  corpse  to  their  beloved  coun- 
try. 

It  appears  that  at  the  period  in  which  these 
events  occurred,  the  attendants  of  an  eastern 
monarch  never  appeared  before  him  in  garments 
of  mourning  ;  probably,  one  great  reason  for 
which  was,  that  royal  personages  might  not  be 
reminded  of  death  till  it  came  upon  them.  Ah  ! 
what  a  proof  is  this  that  all  is  not  right,  when  a 
man  dare  not  contemplate  his  end  !  How  differ- 
ent to  the  case  of  him  who  can  say,  "  Come, 
Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly."  Under  these  circum- 
stances, Joseph  requested  the  courtiers  around 
Pharaoh  to  state  to  him  the  circumstances  in 
which  he  was  placed  ;  that  his  father  having  a 
high  regard  for  the  burying  place  of  his  fathers 
in  the  land  of  Canaan,  had  caused  him  to  swear 
that  he  would  carry  him  there,  and  that  he  there- 
fore solicited  permission  to  be  absent  a  period 
lono^  enouo:h  lo  discharge  his  sepulchral  duties. 
Pharaoh,  both  from  a  sense  of  propriety,  and  from 
feelin2:s  of  respect  to  J.»cob  and  the  family,  sent 
the  message  to  Joseph,  "Go  up  and  bury  thy 
17 


190  THE    DYING    PATRIARCH. 

lather,  according  as  he  made  thee  swear."  The 
Egyptian  monarch,  though  a  heathen,  saw  the 
importance  of  Joseph  fulfilling  his  oath.  How 
forcibly  does  he  thus  reprove  some  professing 
Christians,  who  seem  to  consider  it  a  matter  of 
indifference  whether  or  not  they  complete  their 
engagements. 

We  see,  then,  the  corpse  of  the  patriarch  mov- 
ing with  funeral  honours  towards  the  spot  where 
it  is  destined  to  rest,  till  the  trumpet  of  the  arch- 
angel sounds,  and  he  sliall  rise  to  immortality. 
He  once  contemplated  being  bereaved  of  his  chil- 
dren, or,  at  least,  of  those  whom  he  loved  best ; 
but  we  see  that  they  all  attend  him  to  his  last 
home,  drop  the  tear  of  giief  over  his  loss,  while 
Joseph,  whom  he  long  considered  to  have  been 
devoured  by  wild  beasts,  gives  a  strong  charge 
that  his  bones  might  lie  with  those  of  his  father, 
liittle  did  Jacob  once  think  that  he  should  be  fol- 
lowed to  the  grave  by  a  great  number  of  Pha- 
raoh's household  ;  but  such  was  th^ir  esteem  for 
the  man  whom,  as  a  shepherd,  they  counted  an 
abomination,  that  they  left  their  pleasures  to  ac- 
company his  remains  to  the  tomb,  and  to  weep 
over  them.  Reliijion  compels  men  to  esteem 
those  who  exemplify  the  spiiit  and  conduct  it 
recommends. 

My  reader  has  long  ago  been  ready  to  exclaim, 


THE    DYING    PATRIARCH.  191 

"liet  me  die  the  denth  of  the  righteous,  and  let 
my  hist  end  be  Hke  his  ;"  but  let  him  be  remind 
ed,  that  if  his  death  is  to  r  emble  tiiat  of  the  pa- 
triarch, so  must  his  life.  Jacob's  was  a  life  of 
faith  ;  he  beheved  what  God  had  spoken,  and 
trusted  for  salvation  in  the  Messiah  whom  God 
had  promised  ;  and  unless  we  do  the  same,  we 
cannot  enjoy  liappiness  or  heaven.  It  is  a  matter 
of  thankfuhiess,  that  to  us  the  way  of  salvation  is 
so  much  clearer  than  to  the  patriarchs.  They  had 
the  testimony  of  God  to  rely  on,  it  is  true,  but 
they  knew  but  little  beyond  the  mere  fact,  that 
Christ  should  come,  to  bring  in  an  everlasting 
righteousness  and  salvation  for  them  :  but  on  us 
the  full  blaze  of  the  gospel  has  shone,  and  awful 
indeed  will  be  our  condition  if  we  shut  our  eyes 
and  hearts  against  it. 

The  scripture  account  of  the  death  of  Jacob 
teaches  us  that  it  is  profitable  to  attend  the  dying 
beds  of  true  saints  ;  because  here  we  see  the  im- 
portance and  excellence  of  true  religion,  and  how 
it  takes  away  the  fear  of  death,  and  enables  us  to 
triumph  over  it,  by  shewing  us  "the  path  of  life," 
and  the  seat  of  Him  in  whose  "  presence  is  life, 
and  at  whose  right  hand  there  are  pleasures  for 
evermore."  It  exhibits  Joseph  in  a  very  amia- 
ble light,  as  continuing  his  most  affectionate  re- 
gards to  his  father,  though  raised  by  Divine  Pro- 


192  THE    DYING    PATRIARCH. 

vidence  to  a  very  eminent  station  in  the  world. 
It  teaches  lis  that  we  may  indulge  the  liveliest 
hopes  in  reference  to  those  who  sleep  in  Jesus,  and 
that  we  may  anticipate  the  triumphs  of  the  resur- 
rection with  delight,  because  then  we  shall  meet 
those  whom  we  loved  on  earth.  And,  finally,  it 
suggests  the  importance  of  examinino^  ourselves, 
as  to  our  spiritual  condition  before  God.  It  is 
not  enough  for  us  to  profess  an  attachment  to  reli- 
gion ;  we  must  love  its  glorious  Author,  and  be 
strongly  impressed  with  its  influence. 

My  reader,  forget  not  that  thou  also  must  die; 
therefore,  prepare  to  meet  thy  God. 


THE  FOUNDLING. 


With  what  compassion,  with  what  angel  sweetness, 

She  bends  to  look  upon  the  infant's  face  ! 

She  takes  his  little  hand  in  hers — he  wakes — 

She  smiles  upon  him — hark  !  alas  !  he  cries  ; 

Weep  on,  sweet  babe  !  weep  on,  till  thou  hasttouch'd 

Each  chord  of  pity,  waken'd  every  sense 

Of  melting  sympathy,  and  stol'n  her  soul. 

H.  More. 

Few  things  are  more  humbling  to  the  pride  of 
man  than  his  being  a  creature  of  entire  depen- 
dence. He  cannot,  without  the  aid  of  others,  en- 
joy the  conveniences  or  the  comforts  of  Hfe.  No 
other  creature  comes  into  the  world  in  a  state  so 
complelely  helpless.  How  admirably  does  this 
arrangement. of  infinite  wisdom  call  forth  and  il- 
lustrate the  fine  and  tender  feelings  of  parental 
affection  !  Nor  does  it  less  shew  us  the  benevo- 
lence of  Jehovah,  whose  "  tender  mercies  are  over 
all  his  works  ;"  for  in  infancy,  and  in  after-life, 
he  delivers  us  from  "  deaths  oft."  How  great  is 
17* 


194  THE    FOUNDLING. 

his  goodness  towards  us,  even  when  we  are  to- 
tally insensible  of  his  character,  and  before  a  sin- 
gle prayer  has  ascended  from  our  hearts,  implor- 
ing his  protection  and  favour !  It  is  a  circum- 
stance worthy  of  our  remark,  that  the  Lord 
Jesus  was  preserv^ed  in  infancy  in  a  miraculous 
manner  from  the  rage  of  a  cruel  tyrant,  who,  in 
order  to  ensure  his  destruction,  commanded  all 
the  infants  of  Bethlehem  to  be  slain.  But  he 
who  sitteth  in  the  heavens,  superintending  the  af- 
fairs of  the  universe,  laughed  at  the  decree,  and 
delivered  his  Son  from  the  power  of  his  enemy. 
This  event  was  typified  by  the  preservation  of 
Moses  from  the  designs  of  Pharaoh,  the  sanguin- 
ary monarch  of  Egypt.  Mortified  at  the  increase 
of  the  Israelites,  whose  numbers  had  multiplied^ 
notwithstanding  all  his  schemes  to  the  contrary, 
he  decreed  that  every  male  child  horn  among 
them  should  be  thrown  into  the  river.  This  was 
the  period  when  Moses,  who  was  destined  to 
deliver  his  nation  from  the  power  of  Pharaoh, 
came  into  the  world,  and  was  rescued  by  the 
good  providence  of  God,  in  a  most  remarkable 
manner,  from  a  watery  grave.  On  this  deliver- 
ance, which  he  has  recorded  with  inimitable 
simplicity  and  beauty,  it  is  our  present  design 
to  make  a  few  remarks. 

The  parents  of  Moses,  Amram  and  Jochebed^ 


THE    FOUNDLING.  195 

were  amon^-  those  who  were  Israelites  indeed, 
and  were  looking  for  the  period  when  the  God 
of  their  fathers  should  deliver  them,  accordino:  to 
his  promise,  from  the  slavery  they  now  endur- 
ed. Great,  indeed,  were  the  sorrows  witli  wiiich 
they  were  exercised.  The  tender  mother  was 
called  to  see  her  darling^  son  carried  from  her 
breast,  to  be  consigned  to  the  merciless  waters 
of  the  Nile,  there  to  be  devoured  by  the  crocodile, 
the  native  of  that  river.  Oh,  what  anxiety  would 
agitate  the  breast  of  the  Israelitish  female,  when 
looking  forward  to  the  interesting  yet  critical 
hour  of  nature's  sorrow,  let  the  offspring  of  her 
womb  should  prove  a  son  !  The  very  blessing 
which  every  mother  wished  to  possess,  in  this 
case  added  an  almost  intolerable  burden  to  their 
miseries.  What  a  temptation  was  this  to  think 
hardly  of  the  blessed  God.  Their  enemies,  the 
Egyptians,  who  were  devoted  to  the  service  of 
idols,  had  none  of  these  sorrows  ;  while  they,  the 
descendants  of  Abraham,  the  friend  of  Jehovah, 
must  endure  the  grief  of  having  their  helpless 
sons  torn  from  their  affectionate  embraces,  and 
thrown  into  the  river.  Instead  of  the  mother  re- 
joicing "  that  a  man  child  was  born,"  it  would 
only  increase  her  sorrows.  Here,  indeed,  was  a 
trial  of  their  faith,  and  their  patience  ; — here  was 
a  dark  cloud  which  eclipsed  their  hopes,  and  led 


196  THE    FOUNDLING. 

them  to  prefer  their  petitions  at  the  footstool  of 
Divine  mercy  with  increasing  ardour. 

AVhen  Moses  was  horn,  his  parents  saw  he  was 
a  beautiful  and  promisino-  child.  There  seems  to 
have  been  something  more  than  usually  prepos- 
sessing in  his  appearance  ;  and,  as  God  i  ad  gra- 
ciously promised  them  dehver;ujce  from  their 
captivity,  they  probably  felt  a  strong  impression 
on  their  minds  that  he  was  the  promised  deliver- 
er of  his  people  :  for  the  apostle  tells  us.  in  his 
Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  that  ''  by  faith^  Moses, 
when  he  was  born,  was  hid  three  months  of  his 
parents,  because  they  saw  he  was  a  proper  child  r 
and  they  were  not  afraid  of  the  king's  command- 
ment." Tlu'ee  long  months,  notwithstanding  the 
stern  decree  of  the  monarch,  did  they  conceal  the 
lovely  babe  in  their  own  house.  What  anxious 
feelings  mustai^^itate  the  breast  of  the  affectionate 
Jochebed  during  this  p'^riod  !  Every  one  who 
approached  their  humble  dwelling  would  be 
viewed  v/ith  suspicion,  lest  he  should  betray  the 
secret;  every  smile  of  the  unconscious  infant 
would  be  a  pang  inflicted  on  her  heart,  because  it 
would  remind  her  of  the  untimely  death  to  which 
he  was  doomed,  and  to  which  she  feared  he  must 
soon  fall  a  victim  ;  and  every  cry  he  uttered  would 
excite  her  trembling  dread,  lest  his  hiding-place 
should  be  discovered,  and  he^  by  some  cruel  and 


THE    FOUNDLING.  197 

malicious  neighbour,  should  be  torn  from  her 
arms  !  Would  not  the  tender  motlier  be  rendy 
to  ask — Where  is  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  ?  Why 
does  he  suffer  us  to  endure  these  paiuiul  priva- 
tions, wliich  are  infinitely  more  trying  than  all 
our  bondage  ?  Why  bless  me  with  a  son,  and 
thus  snatch  him  from  my  arms^  and  wring  my 
heart  with  grief? — But,  then,  under  the  influence 
of  holy  principles,  she  would  check  her  unbeliev- 
ing fears,  and  resolve  to  trust  Jehovah,  even 
where  she  could  not  trace  his  deep  and  myste- 
rious designs. 

But,  alas  !  when  three  months  had  passed 
away,  the  parents  of  Moses,  much  as  they  loved 
him,  found  it  impossible  any  lonofer  to  conceal  the 
interesting  babe.  How,  then,  will  the  anxious 
mother  act  ?  Say,  ye  tender  mothers,  who  weep 
at  the  very  idea  of  her  situation,  what  would  ye 
have  done?  A  little  basket,  that  would  float  on 
the  water,  is  prepared,  and  pitched  within  and 
without ;  and  in  this  frail  bark  the  infant  is  plac- 
ed. Miriam,  his  sister,  an  interesting  girl,  of  pro- 
bably ten  or  twelve  years  old,  is  employed  to 
pLace  the  ark  on  the  water,  and  to  watch  at  a 
little  distance  what  will  become  of  it.  "  Who 
knows,"  asks  the  feeling  mother,  whose  anxiety 
hasnovv  reached  its  utmost  height,  "but  that  in 
some  way  or  other,  I  know  not  how,  the  God  of 


198  THE    FOUNDLING. 

our  fathers  mny  rescue  him  from  dpstruction  f 
Take  him,  my  Miriam,  and  O,  that  he  who  form- 
ed him  in  the  womb  may  have  mercy  upoti  him ; 
consign  him  to  the  river,  and  watcli  till  thou  seest 
him  sink  to  its  bottom,  or  till  he  be  devoured  by 
the  crocodile  ;  or,  if  such  should  be  his  happy  lot, 
till  he  be  rescued  from  their  perilous  g^rasp." 

I  will  not  attempt  to  describe  to  my  reader  the 
feelings  of  the  mother  or  of  the  sister  on  this  un- 
happy occasion  ;  nor  will  1  try  to  convey  an  idea 
of  the  agonies  endured  by  the  affectionate  father, 
who,  as  he  performed  the  task  of  a  slave,  could 
not  be  ignorant  of  the  passing  scene.  They  may 
be  conceived  of,  but  cannot  be  portrayed.  Long 
had  the  good  man  pleaded  with  God,  both  in  his 
private  retirement  and  at  the  family  altar,  that  his 
Moses  "  might  live  before  him  ;"  and  even  now, 
in  the  dark  hour  of  sorrow,  he  will  trust  in  his 
God.  The  magicians  of  E^rypt,  celebrated  as  they 
were,  for  their  astonishing  powers,  could  not  save 
him ;  but  the  God  of  Israel  "  is  wonderful  in  coun- 
sel, and  mighty  in  working,"  and  who  can  tell,  asks 
the  believer  in  his  word,  but  he,  who  at  the  last 
moment  appeared  for  the  deliverance  of  Isaac, 
may  deliver  Moses  also? 

See,  on  yonder  undulating  wave,  floats  the 
ark,  composed  of  bulrushes  ;  on  the  neighbouring 
hill  stands  Miriam,  in  torturing  suspense  : 


THE    FOUNDLING.  199 

She  wonders  where  the  scene  will  end. 

Yonder  comes  a  party  of  females.  It  is  Ther- 
matis,  the  daiio^hter  of  the  monarchj  with  her  at- 
tendants. The  religions  system  of  her  country 
has  commanded  its  votaries  to  wash  their  bodies 
four  times  in  every  twenty- four  hours.  To  obey 
this  requisition,  and  topromoteher  health  and  spi- 
rits, she  is  come  down  to  the  river  to  bathe.  As  she 
amuses  herself  in  the  refreshing  stream,  the  lit- 
tle bark  arrests  her  attention  ;  her  curiosity  is 
excited,  and  she  commands  it  to  be  brought  to 
her.  With  feelmgs  hitherto  unknown  to  her 
bosom,  she  opens  it.  All  !  httle  did  she  think, 
that  he  who  hath  the  hearts  of  all  men  in  his 
hands  had  touched  tiie  secret  springs  of  her  soul, 
and  was  now  leading  her  to  perforin  his  plea- 
sure. ''  And  when  she  had  opened  it,  she  saw 
the  child,  and  the  babe  wept."  Had  it  felt  the  cra- 
vings of  huno^er, — had  its  fears  been  excited  by  the 
peculiarity  of  its  situation, — or  did  the  God  of  na- 
ture design  that  it  should  thus  appeal  to  the  feel- 
ino^s  of  the  princess?  "And  she  had  compassion 
on  him,  and  said.  This  is  one  of  the  Hebrews' chil- 
dren." She  did  not  again  consign  him  to  the 
waves  ;  but  probably,  in  heart  at  least,  blamed 
the  cruelty  of  her  f  tther  in  issuing  a  decree  for 
the  death  of  harmless  and  inoffensive   infants. 


200  THE   FOUNDLING. 

She  was,  perhaps,  the  only  individual  in  the  em- 
pire  possessed  of  the  power  to  do  it,  who  would 
have  felt  disposed  to  save  this  lovely  infant  from 
a  watery  grave.  Little  did  she  suppose  that  she 
was  about  to  train  up  a  child  who  should, redeem 
the  Israelites  from  their  slavery,  and  prove  the 
means  of  the  destruction  of  thousands  of  the 
Egyptians. 

At  the  moment  that  the  compassion  of  Thor- 
mutis  is  excited  by  the  cry  of  the  babe,  little  Mi- 
riam introduces  herself  to  \he  notice  of  the  prin- 
cess ;  and  hearing  her  remark  that  the  child  be- 
long^ed  to  one  of  the  Hebrews,  she  proposes  to  call 
an  Hebrew  woman  to  nurse  it.  In  almost  every 
other  instance  suspicion  would  at  once  have  been 
excited ;  but  this  does  not  nppear  to  have  been 
the  case  on  this  occasion,  fortiie  wisdom  of  Jeho- 
vah had  planned  and  his  awncy  transacted  the 
whole  of  this  affair.  No  Eo:yptian  could  have 
imbued  his  tender  mind  wuh  the  knowledge  of 
God,  or  have  instilled  the  leading  facts  of  revela- 
tion into  his  heart.  "  Mothers,"  said  an  old  bi- 
shop, "  can  do  great  things ;"  and  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  the  education  Moses  receive  d  from  his 
mother  was  eminently  useful  to  him  in  his  after 
days.  While  his  parents  were  bountifully  pro- 
vided for  by  the  royal  house,  Moses  was  loaded 
with  the  honours  of  the  Kgyptian  court,  and  fitted 


THE   FOUNDLING.  201 

for  the  important  part  he  was  hereafter  to  act  on 
the  great  theatre  of  life. 

Oj  what  a  source  of  gratitude  was  this  to  the 
mother  of  Moses  !  She  never  could  forget  her 
obligations  to  God  for  his  kindness  to  her  son. 
What  a  tale  of  delight  for  his  father,  when  here- 
turned  from  the  slavish  toils  of  the  day  !  Instead 
of  hearing  the  melancholy  tale  that  his  son  was 
no  more,  he  found  him  still  smiling  on  his  mo- 
ther's knee  ;  while  she.  weeping  for  joy,  told  the 
wonderful  dealings  of  God,  and  called  upon  him 
to  join  her  in  a  song  of  thanksgiving  to  their  hea- 
venly Father  ;  nor  can  we  suppose  that  Miriam, 
young  as  she  was,  could  see  all  this  unmoved. 
She  probably  learned  now,  more  clearly  than  she 
had  ever  done  before,  the  blessedness  of  trusting 
in  God,  and  sang,  with  her  parents,  the  praises 
of  him  whose  wonderful  works  she  afterwards 
declared  in  her  beautiful  and  immortal  song. 

The  narrative,  as  we  have  now  viewed  it, 
teaches  us  the  doctrine  of  a  particular  providence 
which  God  exercises  towards  his  own  people  ;  as 
Bishop  Hall  has  remarked,  "  when  we  seem  most 
neglected  and  forlorn  in  ourselves,  then  is  God 
most  present,  most  vigilant."  This  encourages 
us  to  put  our  trust  in  him  under  the  darkest  dis- 
pensations with  which  we  may  be  visited  ;  see- 


18 


202  THE    FOUNDLING. 

i'g  that  wliat  may  appear  to  us  thegreatest  trials 
may  end  in  our  unspeakable  happiness. 

Ye  fearful  saints,  fresh  courage  fake ; 

The  clouds  ye  so  much  dread 
Are  big  with  mercy,  and  shall  break 

In  blessings  on  your  head. 

We  learn  farlher,  that  the  enemies  ofGod,  even 
against  their  inclinations,  may  he  constrained  to 
do  good  to  his  people,  and  to  contribute  essen- 
tially to  their  happiness  and  their  usefulness. 
And,  finally,  we  see  the  importance  of  iniusing, 
in  early  life,  the  important  truths  of  revelation 
into  the  minds  of  our  children.  That  instruction 
was  imparted  lo  Moses  in  the  years  of  infancy 
which  preserved  him  amidst  the  temptations  of 
an  Egyptian  court,  and  prepared  him  for  eminent 
usefulness  in  the  church  of  God.  *' Train  up  a 
child  in  the  way  lie  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old 
ije  will  not  depart  from  it." 


THE    WISE    CHOICE. 

EXOD.  II.  III.       HEB    XI.   24—26. 

Suffering  with  gladness  for  a  Saviour's  sake, 
His  soul  exults,  hope  animates  his  lays, 
Th^  sense  of  mercy  kindles  into  praise, 
And  wilds,  familiar  with  a  lion's  roar, 
Ring  with  ecstatic  sounds,  unheard  before: 
'Tis  love  like  his  that  can  alone  d.^feat 
The  foes  of  man,  or  mak-i  a  desert  sweet. 

COWPER. 

Whether  we  search  the  records  of  sacred  or 
profiine  history,  it  would  be  difficult  to  select,  with 
the  exception  of  "the  man  Christ  Jesus,"  a  more 
remarkable  individual  than  Moses.  Whether  we 
consider  his  talents,  natural  and  acquired, — his 
superiority  as  a  legislator, — the  public  spirit  he 
manifested,  and  the  anxious  concern  he  shewed 
for  tlie  prosperity  of  Israel, — or  the  meekness  of 
temper  he  usually  displayed,  we  are  impelled  to 
the  conviction  that  he  was  no  common  character. 
On  his  preservation  in  helpless  mfancy, — his  hap- 
piness in  communintr  vvith  God  "  face  to  face,  as 


204  TEIE    WISE    CHOICE. 

a  man  talketh  with  his  friend," — his  eminence  as 
a  type  of  the  great  Deliverer  and  Legislator  of 
the  church, — and  his  remarkable  death  and 
burial,  we  dwell  with  interest  profound  and  de- 
lightful ;  while,  with  Stephen,  we  pronounce  him 
a  man  "  mii^hty  in  words  and  deeds." 

Few  portions  of  the  sacred  writings  suggest 
reflections  more  pleasing  than  the  one  in  which 
Paul,  in  wrltmg  to  the  Hebrews,  details  the  influ- 
ence of  faith  on  the  heart  and  conduct  of  Moses, 
— ''  By  faith  Moses,  when  he  was  come  to  years, 
refused  to  be  called  the  son  of  Pharaoh's  daugh- 
ter;  choosing  rather  to  sufler  aflliction  with  the 
people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin 
for  a  season  ;  esteeming  the  reproach  of  Christ 
greater  riches  than  all  the  treasures  of  Egypt: 
for  he  had  respect  unto  the  recompence  of  re- 
ward." 

In  reading  this  passage,  our  imagination  is  con- 
ducted to  the  court  of  Egypt.  Here,  where  royalty 
dwells  in  splendour,  possessing  more  than  heart 
could  wish, — where  idolatry  is  practised,  and  from 
whence  has  issued  many  an  edict  to  persecute  and 
oppress  the  people  of  Jehovah — here  dwells  Moses, 
a  man  snatched  in  infancy,  by  the  daughter  of  the 
monarch,  from  a  watery  o^iave,  and  adopted  into 
the  royal  house  as  her  own  son — Moses,  who  had 
been  instructed  in  "arithmetic, geometry, physic, 


THE  WISE  CHOICE.  205 

music,  hieroglyphics,  and  astronomy,"  sciences 
for  which  EiJ^ypt  at  that  period  was  justly  cele- 
brated. Besides  this,  he  no  doubt  filled  high 
offices  in  the  state  ;  and  probably  was,  as  some 
of  the  Jewish  writers  tell  us,  designed  by  Pha- 
raoh himself  to  be  the  future  sovereign  of  the 
country.  If  ever  man  had  reason  to  be  satisfied 
with  the  present  world,  it  was  Moses.  Possessed 
of  influence  and  of  honour,  and  able  to  enjoy 
every  gratification  which  a  njan  in  his  high  sta- 
tion could  wish  to  pursue,  what  could  be  more 
desirable  than  that  "  he  siiould  eat  and  drink,  and 
that  he  should  make  his  soul  enjoy  good." 

But  happiness  consists  not  in  splendour,  nor  is 
it  necessarily  connected  with  it.  The  royal 
couch  may  be  planted  with  thorns;  and  an  ach- 
ing heart  may  reside  in  a  palace.  While  the 
ignorant  and  inexperienced  may  be  coveting 
the  pomp  and  circumstance  of  a  crown,  he  who 
sustains  it  may  be  groaning  under  the  load  which 
oppresses  his  mind.  Elevated  as  was  Moses 
in  the  house  of  Pharaoh,  a  burden  haujgjs  on  his 
soul  which  none  can  remove  but  the  God  of  Is- 
rael. The  religion  taught  l)y  Jehovah,  and  in- 
spired by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  that  alone,  can 
make  a  man  truly  happy.  Forty  years  long  has 
Moses  been  seeking  for  enjoyment  in  a  palace, 
but  he  finds  it  not;  it  is  imparted  oiily  l)y  "  the 
18* 


206  THE    WISE    CHOICE. 

God  of  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Jacob,"  and  by  him 
it  is  given  lo  every  believing  applicant. 

It  is  a  pleasing  fact,  that  religion  is  occasionally 
found  where  we  have  not  supposed  it  to  exist. 
We  should  not  have  looked  for  Christians  in  the 
household  of  Nero  ;  nor  should  we  have  expect- 
ed that  Moses,  the  adopted  son  of  Pliaraoh's 
daughter,  would  receive  Divine  hght,  and  feel  the 
importance  of  the  truth.  But,  removed  as  such 
persons  generally  are  from  God,  and  ignorant 
as  they  almost  universally  appear  of  the  great 
things  of  the  gospel,  he,  whose  ways  are  not  as 
our  ways,  and  whose  thoughts  are  not  as  our 
thoughts,  can  visit  them  by  his  Spirit,  and 
"shine  into  their  hearts  to  give  them  the  light  of 
the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God  in  the  face  of 
Jesus  Christ."  And  though  it  is  true  "  that  not 
many  wise  men  after  the  flesh,  not  many  mighty, 
not  many  noble,  are  called"  by  Divine  grace,  yet 
someoxQ  visited  by  "the  day-spring  from  on  high," 
and  qualified  for  important  offices  in  his  church. 
But  for  the  sovereign  grace  of  God,  Moses  had 
contentedly  revelled  in  the  splendid  pleasures  of 
the  Egyptian  court,  engaged  in  the  sin  of  idolatry, 
and  united  with  the  ruling  tyrant  in  his  oppres- 
sion of  the  Israelites.  But  God  had  marked  him 
for  his  own,  and  in  his  due  time  inclined  him  to 
adopt  the  resolution  we  have  already  referred 
to. 


THE    WISE    CHOICE,  207 

The  parents  of  this  distinguished  individual, 
Amram  and  Jochebed,  appear  to  have  been 
among  the  number  of  those  who  "  called  on  the 
name  of  the  Lord,"  believed  his  promises  to  the 
fathers,  and  were  influenced  by  his  fear.  As 
Moses,  by  the  overruling  providence  of  God,  had 
been  brought  up,  in  childhood  at  least,  under  their 
eye,  they,  no  doubt,  had  instructed  him  in  the 
language  and  religion  of  his  fathers.  He  had 
been  told  that  the  Israelites  were  now  in  Egypt 
by  the  appointment  of  Jehovah,  who  by  this 
event  was  accomplishing  his  great  purposes  ; 
that  they  should  ultimately  be  delivered  from 
their  slavery  ;  and  possibly  these  pious  persons 
had  endeavoured  to  stimulate  him  to  use  exer- 
tions to  accomplish  this  desirable  object.  He  had 
been  farther  told,  that  the  land  of  Canaan  should 
be  given  them  for  a  possession ;  and  that  the 
great  Messiah  promised  to  the  fathers,  should  be 
born  of  their  nation,  should  instruct  them  in  the 
knowledge  of  God,  and  redeem  them  from  spirit- 
ual slavery  by  the  shedding  of  his  blood.  The 
Spirit  of  God  impressed  these  truths  on  his  heart : 
he  believed  them  ;  and  placing  a  simple  reliunce 
on  those  important  facts,  his  views,  his  feelings, 
and  his  conduct  were  changed. 

Believers  in  the  religion  of  the  Bible  have  of- 
ten been  charged  with  enthusiasm.     But  why  ? — ■ 


20S  THE    WISE    CHOICE. 

Have  iho'^G  who  prefer  the  cliarge  examined  the 
matter;  and  is  there  ground  on  which  it  is  sup- 
ported ?  The  faith  of  the  Christian  has  reofard 
to  the  testimony  of  God.  Jehovaii  had  revealed 
the  truths  which  Moses  believed.  See  Gen.  xv. 
13— 19  ;  xviii.8,  9,  13;  xxii.  IS;— and  where, 
we  ask,  is  the  enthusiasm — where  the  irrational- 
ity of  believing  the  word  of  him  who  made  us  ? 
Awfnl,  indeed,  must  be  the  condition  of  those 
who  live  and  die  rejecting  the  testimony  God 
hath  given  of  his  Son. 

Where  the  faith  of  the  gospel  has  been  produc- 
ed in  the  heart  by  the  influence  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  it  will  not  be  concealed  as  a  hidden  princi- 
ple. It  is  a  light  that  catjuot  be  hid  ;  it  is  leav- 
en that  must  produce  efl^ects ; — a  fire  that  must 
burn  ; — a  seed  that  must  grow  and  produce  fruit 
— it  icorks  hy  love.  When  a  man  believes  what 
God  has  revealed,  he  must  of  necessity  venerate 
his  Creator,  both  on  account  of  the  loveliness  of 
his  character  and  the  grace  displayed  in  his  con- 
duct: and  having  loved  God,  he  will  love  his 
people  also  ;  because  they  bear  the  image  of  their 
common  Father,  and  are  conslaiitly  seekinor  the 
promotion  of  his  glory.  Besides  which,  Jesus 
has  made  it  the  test  of  our  Christian  character 
that  we  sliould  love  the  brethren  who,  with  us, 
have  been  begotten  again  "  by  the  word  of  truth.'* 


THE    WISE    CHOICE.  209 

Hence  we  are  not  surprised  at  the  resolution  of 
Moses  to  connect  himself  with  "the  people  of 
God."  They  alone  possess  the  knowledge  of  Je- 
hovah ;  they  are  looking  forward  to  the  land  of 
promise,  and  they  are  hoping  for  the  appearance 
of  the  Messiah.  And  if  there  are  so  many  rea- 
sons why  he  should  unite  with  them, — why 
should  he,  or  they  who  act  like  him,  be  cliarged 
with  enthusiasm  ? 

But  if  a  man  would  enjoy  the  blessings  of  reli- 
gion, he  must  be  content  to  make  expensive  sacri- 
fices. Moses  sees  the  Israelites  despised  and  per- 
secuted ;  they  are  in  bondage,  while  he  possesses 
liberty,  and  is  surrounded  with  plenty  and  with 
grandeur.  But  the  faith  he  possesses  overcomes 
the  IV  or  Id  ;  it  triumphs  over  the  principles  of 
earth,  and  pities  the  motives  which  influence  its 
votaries  ;  it  smiles  at  the  sufferings  which  man 
inflicts,  and  despises  the  offers  which  the  world 
presents  ;  it  has  in  possession  rich  promises  to 
support  the  mind  in  the  hour  of  trial,  and  in 
prospect  the  enjoyment  of  immortal  felicity. 
Must  Moses  cease  "  to  be  called  the  son  of  Pha- 
raoh's daughter," — this  is  a  sacrifice  he  is  quite 
willing  to  make  ;  for  he  becomes  by  faith  a  son 
of  Jehovah — he  belongs  to  the  family  of  heaven, 
and  from  henceforth  he  holds  communion  with 
the  Governor  of  the  universe;  pouring  into  the 


210  THE    WISE    CHOICE. 

bosom  of  Deity  all  his  sorrows,  and  receiving- 
from  his  infinite  love  the  snpply  of  all  liis  neces- 
sities. Must  he  •'  suffer  alHiction  with  the  people 
of  God," — he  is  content  to  do  so  ;  because  they 
are  the  favourites  of  heaven  :  he  is  quite  sure 
that  the  path  of  duty  is  tiie  path  of  safety,  and 
must  eventually  conduct  lo  everlasting  happi- 
ness. Their  common  Father  will  always  pro- 
vide for  them  ;  and  tliouo^h  he  may  now  suffer 
the  n  to  endure  trials  and  afflictions,  it  is  hut  to 
furnish  him  with  an  opportunity  of  administering 
grace,  to  support  their  minds,  and  to  prepare 
them  for  a  residence  in  that  land  where  ih(;se 
sorrows  and  this  bondaore  shall  be  unknown. 
Must  he  renounce  "the  pleasures"  in  which  he 
had  engaged? — Yes;  and  all  these  he  cheerful- 
ly leaves  ;  he  knows  they  are  all  impure — they 
are  •'  the  pleasures  of  sin  ;"  and  what  must  be  the 
nature  of  the  enjoyment  of  him  who  lives  in  a 
state  of  rebellion  against  God,  whose  heart  is 
alienated  from  his  Maker?  His  happiness  can- 
not be  genuine;  for  this  is  the  portion  only  of 
him  who  has  been  reconciled  to  God  by  the  death 
of  his  Son.  Moses  felt  also  that  these  pleasures 
are  "  but  for  a  season  ;"  they  last  but  a  very  short 
time,  are  accompanied  with  dissatisfaction,  and 
end  in  sorrow.  Like  David,  of  after  times,  Mo- 
ses would  rather  spend  a  day  in  the  service  of 


THE    WISE    CHOICE.  211 

God,  than  a  thousand  elsevvfiere.  Has  he  to  suf- 
fer reproach  ?  He  has  ;  but  he  esteems  "  the  re- 
proach of  Christ,"  or  his  sufTeriufrs  for  faith  in 
the  Messiah  to  conie,  "greater  riches  than  the 
treasures  of  Egypt."  O  what  a  different  view- 
does  the   word  of  God  orjve  us  of  the  wealth  of 

o 

this  world  from  tfiat  which  men  generally  enter- 
tain !  Man  considers  it  as  ali-impoitant ;  Jeho- 
vah represents  it  as  of  hut  little  value.  Man 
pursues  the  worM  at  the  expense  of  his  own  sal- 
vation ;  while  God  teaches  ns,  that  even  the  re- 
proach attendtint  on  religion  is  to  be  preferred 
before  the  best  things  which  earth  has  to  give. 
Moses  was  aware  of  the  persecutions  he  would 
have  to  sutler  ;  and  he  l':ncw  also  the  glory  of  him 
for  whose  sake  they  would  be  endured.  He  was 
not  ignorant  of  the  sneers  with  vvhich  he  would 
be  assailed  ;  but  he  felt  the  excellence  of  the 
cause  in  which  he  had  engao^ed,  and  knew  that 
a  period  would  arrive  when  the  wisdom  cf  his 
conduct  vvould  appear  befoie  the  assembled  uni- 
verse. He  knew,  even  then,  that  a  man  could 
not  forsake  his  all  for  Christ  without  receiving 
"a  hu  drt'd  fold  in  this  world,  and  in  the  world 
to  come  (^vcrlasiing  life."  He  saw  things  in 
tlu'ir  traie  coloins:  and  what  were  the  honours, 
tlie  riches,  and  the  pleasures  of  Egypt  ?  Would 
they  saiisiy  the  claims  of  God  ?    Would  they  ease 


212  THE    WISE    CHOICE. 

a  wounded  conscience,  or  heal  a  broken  heart? 
Would  they  comfort  in  the  hour  of  sorrow,  or 
bribe  the  kinor  of  terrors,  when  he  should  make  his 
approach  ? — No  :  he  fell  their  wortlilessness.  Be- 
sides this,  he  looked  forward ;  "  he  had  respect 
unto  the  recompence  of  the  reward."  Not  mere- 
ly did  he  anticipate  the  enjoyments  of  Canaan, 
for  that  country  he  never  entered,  but  he  saw  by 
faith  that  heavenly  land  of  which  Canaan,  with 
all  its  riches,  presented  but  a  feeble  shadow — 
'Mie  looked  for  a  city  which  hath  foundations; 
whose  builder  and  maker  is  God  ;"  his  Fcither's 
house — where  he  himself  dwells,  and  where  the 
whole  family  of  heaven  shall  finally  assemble  ; 
where  Jesus  sits  enthroned  in  immortal  splen- 
dour, scattering  around  him  "joys  unspeakable 
and  full  of  glory." 

The  splendid  crown  which  Moses  sought 

Still  beams  around  his  brow  ; 
Though  soon  great  I'haraoh's  conquer'd  pride 
Was  taught  by  deutii  to  bow. 

What,  then,  are  the  treasures  of  the  world, 
compared  with  the  exalted  blessino:s  which  the 
relii^iou  of  Christ  exhibits  to  our  view?  All 
which  earth  gives  is,  confessedly,  and  from  its 
very  nature,  confined  to  the  present  state.  Its 
pleasures  end  in  the  night  of  death — its  honours 


THE   WISE    CHOICE. 


213 


are  buried  with  us  in  the  grave — its  riches  pass 
Slot  current  in  the  world  to  come.  Preparation 
for  that  solemn  eternity  into  which  death  will 
introduce  us,  it  pretends  not  to  give.  It  makes 
no  promises  beyond  the  tomb.  But  Moses,  and 
every  one  who  possesses  faith  in  Christ,  must 
needs  regfard  another  world.  To  the  believer  in 
Jesus,  eternity  opens  a  vast  and  delightful  pro- 
spect. There  he  sees  "  the  end  of  his  faith,  the 
salvation  of  his  soul."  A  dehverance  from  the 
pains  of  hell,  the  dominion  of  sin,  and  the 
power  of  death.  There  he  enters  on  those 
durable  riches,  those  lasting  honours,  and  ihose 
substantial  pleasures,  which  this  world,  with  all 
its  boasting,  could  never  afford  him. 

And  who  that  reflects  on  the  nature  of  world- 
ly happiness,  and  the  glories  of  the  world  to 
come, — who  that,  by  the  aid  of  faith,  sees  "him 
who  is  invisible,"  can  blame  Moses  for  such  a 
choice?  What  does  the  man  enjoy  who  to-day 
occupies  the  throne  of  a  mighty  empire,  while 
thousands  how  before  him,  adopting  the  fulsome 
languageof  flattery,  and  saying  of  him,  ns  tliey 
did  of  Herod,  "It  is  the  voice  of  a  god,  and  not 
of  a  man  ?"  Is  he  quite  certain,  that  those  who 
to-day  load  him  witti  plaudits,  may  not  conspire 
his  death  to-morrow  ?  He  who  has  every  plea- 
sure at  command,  does  his  conscience  never  vvhis- 
19 


214  THE    WISE    CHOICE. 

per  in  his  ears  tJiat  he  is  a  sinner  ?     Does  he  ne- 
ver feel  that  the  Christian,  who  in  a  mnd-walled  , 
cottao-e  hiis  his  '-fellowship  with  the  Father,  and 
with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ,"  is  a  character  infinite- 
ly   more  hononrahle  than    himself?     Does   his 
heart  never  tell  him  thatall  this  proud  distinction 
is  but  a  bubble,  which  will  soon   burst  in  disap- 
pointment?    Will  affliction  keep  at  a  distance 
from  his  throne  ;  and   will  death  listen  to  his 
edict,  and  forget  to  visit  the  palace  ? — No  ;  he  is 
but  a  man,  and  must  have  his  shaie  of  sorrows. 
As  a  guilty  rebel  before   God,  he  needs  the  par- 
don of  his  sins  ;  and   unless  that  pardon    is  ob- 
tained, he  will   find  that,  like  other  impenitent 
sinners,  he  must  sink   inio  the  regions  of  des- 
pair.   Already  do  tlie  inhabitants  of  the  grave  pro- 
claim  in  his  ears,  as   he  passes  by  their  silent 
dwellings — 

Princes,  this  clay  must  be  your  bed. 

In  spite  of  all  your  towers  ; 
The  tall,  the  wise,  the  rcveiend  head, 

Musi  lie  as  low  as  ours. 

And  what  becomes  now  of  the  charge  of  en- 
thusui!-m?  Or  even  supj-osing  tbat  a  portirti  of 
it  be  possessed  by  the  Christinn  :  it  is  forgiven  in 
the  artist,  who  exclaimed — "  I  pant  for  eternity  ;" 
it  is  pjirdoiied  in  the  state^nian,  whose  heart  is 
anxi(nisly  seeking  but  the  ten  poral  prosperity  of 
mankind  ;  it  is  not  censured,  nay.  it  is  adUiired, 


THE    WISE    CHOICE.  215 

in  the  man  of  science,  who  is  so  attached  to  his 
studies  as  even  to  foriret  the  common  duties  of 
life  ; — and  is  it  unpardinablec^nlyin  theman  who, 
relying  on  the  testimony  of  God,  tramples  on  the 
things  of  this  world,  because  he  is  expectino-,  and 
that  on  the  most  rational  grounds,  soon  to  enter 
on  a  better?  May  it  not  be  excused,  if,  feeling 
the  vast  solemnity  of  eternity,  the  thinsfs  of  time 
dwindle  in  our  view  into  absolute  insignificance  ; 
and  if,  anxiously  engaged  in  preparing  for  the 
great  cliange  we  must  soon  undergo,  we  care  but 
little  for  events  which,  compared  with  those  that 
engross  our  attention,  are  but  like  the  shaking  of 
a  leaf  compared  with  the  roaring  of  the  thun- 
ders of  God  ;  or  the  light  of  a  taper  in  compari- 
son with  the  rays  of  the  great  orb  of  day,  when 
he  shines  fortli  in  all  his  noon- tide  splendour ! 

No  longer,  then,  let  the  fieart  of  my  reader  be 
fixed  on  the  baubles  of  the  present  world  ;  but, 
filled  with  sorrow  for  his  past  indifference  to  the 
concerns  of  his  soul,  let  him — • 

Fly  to  the  hope  the  Gospel  gives ; — 
The  man  that  trusts  the  promise  lives. 

Let  his  soul  no  Ioniser  be  placed  on  the  objects 
of  sense;  but  let  him  aspire  after  that  grace 
which  shall  enable  him  to  "  set  his  affections  on 
things  above,  where  Christ  sitteth  at  the  right 


216  THE    WISE    CHOICE. 

hand  of  God,"  Like  Moses,  let  him  heartily- 
cast  in  his  lot  with  the  followers  of  Christ,  clieer- 
fully  sharing  their  sorrows  here,  and  expecting 
to  enjoy  their  reward  hereafter. 

The  estimate  which  Moses  formed  of  the  van- 
ity of  the  world  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  hless- 
edness  of  religion  on  the  other,  was  altogether  a 
correct  one.  True,  he  long  lived  as  "  a  stranger 
in  a  strange  land,"  but  the  Lord  never  forsook 
him,  and  at  length  promoted  him  to  honour  in 
the  sight  of  many  nations.  He  is  immortalized 
as  the  deliverer  and  legislator  of  Israel  ;  in  an- 
swer to  his  prayers,  they  were  again  and  again 
preserved  from  entire  destruction,  and  thongh  on 
some  occasions  he  manifested  an  improper  and 
inconsistent  spirit,  yet  did  he  generally  display 
that  meekness  for  which  he  stands  so  eminently 
distinguished.  True,  he  was  not  perfect  ; — "  to 
err  is  human  ;"  but  he  with  whom  is  forgive- 
ness, while  he  chastised  him  wi.h  exclusion  from 
the  land  of  Canaan,  was  pleased,  in  a  mysterious 
and  happy  manner,  to  remove  his  soul  into  the 
heavenly  world,  burying  his  1  ody  till  the  n.orn. 
ing  of  the  resurrection,  when  it  shall  rise  to  im- 
mortal glory. 

Wo  learn  from  the  interesting  facts  recorded 
of  Moses,  that  the  blessed  God  selects  instru- 
ments to  carry  on  his  cause  in  the  world  from 


THE    WISE    CHOICE. 


217 


all  classes  of  society.  Moses  of  Egypt,  and  Saul 
of  Tarsus,  may  be  trained  to  oppose  his  people  ; 
but  he  can  chan^j^e  their  hearts,  and  constrain 
them  to  consecrate  their  mighty  energies  to  his 
service,  tte  sometimes  makes  even  his  enemies 
contribute  to  support  and  deliver  his  people. 
Little  did  Pharaoh  imagine,  when  he  issued  an 
edict  that  the  male  children  of  the  Hebrews 
should  be  destroyed,  that  it  would  prove  the 
means  of  his  giving  support,  and  training  up  one 
of  those  very  infants,  who,  in  his  own  court, 
should  acquire  the  arts  of  government,  and  who 
should  deliver  the  captives  from  his  grasp.  So 
true  is  it  that  the  Supreme  Governor  of  luiman 
affairs  can  make  even  "  the  wrath  of  man  to 
praise  him."  We  learn  further  from  the  history, 
that  there  is  nothing  lost  by  serving  God  ;  though 
we  may  have  to  sacrifice  wordly  good,  the  loss 
is  abundantly  made  up  by  the  peace  of  consci- 
ence, the  serenity  of  soul,  and  all  the  happiness 
which  reliiJ^ion  brings.  And,  finally,  we  see  that 
faith  in  God,  and  a  firm  and  unmoving  confi- 
dence in  his  word,  will  support  a  Christian  under 
all  the  trials  of  life,  and  enable  him  ''  always  to 
triumph  in  Christ." 

O  for  a  strong^  a  lasting  foith, 
To  credit  what  th'  AJaiighiy  saith! 
T'  embrace  the  message  of  his  bon, 
And  call  the  joys  of  heaven  our  own. 

19* 


THE  BLASPHEMER  STONED. 


LEV.   XXIV.   10  —  16. 


■He 


"Whom  starry  science  in  her  cradle  rock'd, 

And  Castaly  enchasten'd  with  its  dews, 

Closes  his  eye  upon  the  holy  word, 

And,  blind  to  all  but  arrogance  and  pride, 

Dares  to  declare  his  infidelity, 

And  openly  contemn  the  Lord  of  hosts. 

What  is  philosophy,  if  it  impart 

Irreverence  for  the  Deity,  or  teach 

A  mortal  man  to  set  his  judgment  up 

Against  his  Maker's  will  1 

H.  K.  White. 

In  perusing-  the  historical  parts  of  the  inspired 
volume  we  are  frequentlj^  struck  with  the  unhap- 
py effects  which  arose  from  the  people  of  God 
associating  with  those  who  were  yet  opposed  to 
him,  especially  when  the  union  was  so  close  as 
that  which  forms  the  niarriage  contract.  No- 
thing, surely,  can  he  more  inconsistent  with  reli- 
gion, or  more  unlovely,  than  unions  of  this  kind. 
The  tastes,  the  pursuits,  and  the  destinies  of  the 
friends  and  the  enemies  of  God  are  so  different, 


THE    BLASPHEMER    STONED.  219 

that,  if  facts  did  not  convince  us  to  the  contrary, 
we  mijjht  imagine  it  impossible  that  so  close  an 
attachment  could  exist  between  them.  Such, 
however,  is  the  perverseness  of  the  human  heart, 
that  in  defiance  of  the  law  ot  God,  and  in  opposi- 
tion to  our  own  best  interests,  we  determine  to 
gratify  our  wicked  desires.  The  Supreme  Being 
allows  us,  in  justice,  to  follow  our  own  devices, 
but  causes  "our  wickedness  to  correct  us,"  and 
teaches  us,  that  "it  is  an  evil  thing,  and  bitter,  to 
forsake  the  Lord  our  God."  Unhallowed  alliances 
of  the  kind  we  have  censured  destroyed  the  old 
world,  frequently  led  the  Israelites  into  sin,  and 
finally  drovre  them  into  cnptivity. 

Nor  have  the  unhappy  effects  of  this  crime 
been  less  striking  in  destroying  the  happiness  of 
individuals.  This  sin  ruined  an  Esau,  a  Samp- 
son, and  a  Solomon  ;  and  did  no  small  injury  to 
Abraham  and  Job,  to  Moses  and  David.  It  is  an 
artful  snare  of  Satan,  to  obstruct  the  progress  of 
religion  in  the  soul, and  it  istooofien  successful ; 
against  it  young  persons  should  diligently  guard, 
and,  that  they  "  may  be  kept  from  the  evil,"  they 
should  ardently  pray. 

The  awful  circumstance  on  which  1  propose 
to  offer  a  few  illustraiive  remarks,  closely  con- 
nects itself  with  the  observations  just  made. 
While  the  children  of  Israel  were  in  Egypt,  they 


220  THE    BLASPHEMER    STONED. 

too  frequently  married  into  the  ftimilies  of  that 
country,  andtliese  marriages  were,  many  of  them 
at  least,  liighly  injurious  to  their  future  welfare. 
In  the  instance  before  us,  an  Israelitish  female 
had  become  the  wife  of  an  idolatrous  Egyptian, 
and  the  fruit  of  their  marriage  was  a  son,  who, 
on  the  departure  of  the  Israehtes  for  Canaan,  ac- 
companied his  mother,  and  perhaps  his  father,  to 
take  possession  of  the  promised  land.  An  event 
of  this  sort  would  doubtless  afford  pleasure  to  his 
mother,  who  probably  imagined  that  he  had  thus 
forsaken  for  ever  the  paths  of  idolatry  and  of  vice, 
and  tliat,  like  Moses,  their  leader,  he  had  "chosen 
rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people  ot  God, 
than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a  season." 
She,  no  doubt,  looked  forward  to  the  period  when 
he  should  enter  ''  the  land  flowing  with  milk  and 
honey,"  and  enjoy  with  her  a  long  period  of  un- 
interrupted happiness. 

How  frequently  are  the  fondest  hopes  of  a  pious 
parent  disappointed  !  And  especially  is  this  the 
case,  when  the  father,  who  ought  to  guide  his  in- 
fant son  to  the  altar  of  the  God  of  heaven,  there 
to  avow  allegiance  to  Him,  leads  him  astray  to 
the  paths  of  vice.  Children  are  flir  more  likely 
to  choose  the  ways  of  sin  than  those  of  holiness, 
for  the  former  accord  with  their  natural  inclina- 
tions, but  the  latter  are  opposed  to  their  depraved 


THE    BLASPHKMER    STONED.  221 

passions.  This  ^^onns:  ^'^^^  had  witnessed  the 
idoiatry  of  his  fatfier,  and  knew  his  op  osition 
and  hatred,  as  an  Egyptian,  towards  the  descend- 
ants of  Israel.  So  long  as  his  depart n  re  frona 
Egypt  wore  the  charms  of  novelty,  so  long  as  he 
trembled  on  account  of  the  thunders  of  Sinai,  and 
so  lonof  as  he  felt  but  little  of  the  fatigues  and  in- 
conveniences of  the  pilgrimage,  he  probably  felt 
satisfied  ;  but  having  to  endure  hardships,  and, 
possibly,  irritated  by  the  conduct  of  those  who 
would  consider  him  as  a  suspicious  person,  he 
now  began  to  shew  himself  an  open  enemy  to 
the  commonwealth  and  to  the  God  of  Israel. 

It  app3ars  that,  on  some  account  or  other,  a 
quarrel  occurred  between  this  young  man  and 
an  Israelite.  It  is  panifuUy  affeciing  to  see  a 
spirit  of  opposition  among  men,  who  are  l)ound 
both  by  the  law  of  God  and  their  own  happmess 
to  love  each  other.  Sin,  however,  has  ihrovvn 
the  world  into  confusion,  and  leads  men  to  ex- 
pose themselves  to  danger,  in  order  to  shew  their 
hatred  to  those  who  have  been  so  unhappy  as  to 
give  them  offence.  These  young  men  not  only 
disputed,  but  foULcht.  One  evil  produced  another  : 
hard  words  led  to  blows,  and  blows  to  an  excess 
of  passion,  which  impelled  to  a  still  greater 
crime. 

Whoever  contemplates  the  nature  and  the  cha- 


222  THE    BLASPHEMER    STONED. 

racter  of  Jehovah  must  feel  very  deeply  impress- 
ed with  reverence  towards  him,  and  must  see  the 
wisdom  of  his  law,  that  his  name  should  be  treat- 
ed with  solemnity.  It  was  an  amiable  feeling 
which  led  the  Jews  to  refrain  from  pronouncing 
it  excepting  on  extraordinary  occasions,  and 
which  hardly  permitted  them  even  to  write  it. 
Talking  frequently  of  Jehovah  in  a  careless  way- 
will  naturally  lead  us  to  think  lightly  of  him. 
There  were  those,  however,  in  earlier  ages,  who 
could  speak  of  this  Great  Being  as  they  would 
have  done  of  an  idol  deity,  and  there  are  too 
many  in  our  own  day  who  resemble  them.  The 
man  of  whom  we  are  now  speaking  is  generally 
supposed  to  have  injured  the  Israehte  with  whom 
he  fought,  and,  on  this  account,  to  liave  been 
taken  before  a  magistrate,  who  having  decided 
the  cause  against  him,  he  became  irritated,  and 
blasphemed  the  name  of  the  God  of  Israel,  by 
whose  laws  he  had  now  been  judged. 

Blasphemy  has  been  very  correctly  defined  as 
speaking  contumeliously  of  Jehovah.  Its  origin 
betrays  an  awfully  depraved  heart,  and  its  design 
can  be  none  other  than  that  which  Satan  himself 
has  in  view,  to  excite  low  and  wicked  thoughts  in 
the  hearts  of  men  in  reference  to  the  Great  J(  lio- 
vah.  It  is  impossible  to  conceive  of  any  thing 
more  awful  than  that  of  a  man  who  owes  hiseX' 


The  blasphemer  stoned.  223 

istence  and  his  comforts  to  God,  speaking  against 
the  Being  who  is  adored  by  all  holy  intelli- 
gences,  whose  word  i^ave  existence  to  the  uni- 
verse, whose  favour  constitutes  heaven,  and 
whose  frown  creates  the  misery  of  hell  itself. 
Well  might  Jehovah  say.  in  reference  to  such  a 
crime,  that  he  would  not  hold  the  man  guiltless 
who  should  be  found  perpetratmg  it. 

May  I  be  allowed,  before  I  proceed,  to  express 
a  fear  that  this  awful  crime  of  blasphemy  against 
Jehovah  is  even  now  very  frequently  committed  ! 
I  allude,  not  merely  to  the  bold  profane  swearer, 
but  to  the  man  who  indulges  and  disseminates  a 
low  opinion  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  has 
given  so  many  proofs  to  the  world  of  his  essen- 
tial Deity.  To  degrade  Him  whom  the  Father 
has  exalted;  to  count  His  blood  as  an  unholy 
thing,  or  to  reckon  it  as  of  no  value  ;  to  repre- 
sent Him  as  afollible  and  peccable  man  like  our- 
selves, and  to  reject  the  doctrines  He  has  deliver- 
ed in  the  name  of  .Tehovah, — must  surely  be  a 
crime  very  nearly  akin  to  that  of  blasphemy.  Let 
my  reader  cautiously  examine  himself  as  to  the 
views  he  entertains  of  the  Divine  character,  and 
be  careful  lest  he  fall  into  this  sin  ;  remembering 
that  "  the  Lord  God  is  a  jealous  God,  and  will 
not  give  his  glory  to  another." 

The  laws  which  emanated  from  Jehovah  for 


224  THE    BLASPHEMER    STONED. 

the  off^vernment  of  Israel  had  declared  the  enor- 
mity of  this  crime,  but  had  nowhere  adjudged  its 
punisfimerit.      One    would    have   thought  man 
could  hardly-  have  committed  it ;  but  when  we 
daily  hear  murinu rings  against  his  providence, 
and  see  his  authority  defied, — when  we  see  his 
wors.'iip  deserted,  and  idols  set  up  in  his  room, — 
when   we  hear  some   deny   his   existence,    and 
others  find  fault  with  his  law,  we  learn  that  the 
depravity  of  the  human  heart,  as  well  as  its  de- 
ceitfulness,  is  awfully  inveterate  ;  and  when  we 
see  the  Holy  and  Just  One  put  to  death  by  his 
creatures,  we  are  compelled  to  admit  that  man 
can  blasj)heme  the  name  of  Jehovah,  and  it  be- 
comes us  to  be  deeply  humbled  on  account  of  it. 
Greatly  offended,  and  deeply  grieved  as  Moses, 
to  whom  this  case  was  referred,  must  be,  he  felt 
that  it  would  not  become  him  to  inflict  a  pimish- 
nient  upon  the  criminal  till  he  had  conferred  on 
the  subject  with  the  great  Being  who  had  been 
blasphemed.     Honest  zeal  may  yet  be  unenlight- 
ened.    The  disciples  of  Christ  would  have  called 
fire  down  from  heaven,  to  consume  those  who  op* 
posed  him,  had  not  he  hindered  them.     We  may 
punish  those  who  sin  against  God  in  a  wrong 
spirit,  and  in  a  manner  which  may  not  accom- 
plish their  reformation,  or  deter  others  from  the 
sin.     It  is   right   that   he   who   is   blasphemed 


THE    BLASPHEMER    STONED.  225 

against  should  ordain  the  punishment  for  the 
crime,  because  he  only  can  select  what  infliction 
should  mark  his  detestation  of  the  sin,  and  pre- 
vent others  from  readily  falling  into  it.  On  these 
accounts,  Moses  acted  with  great  wisdom  in  keep- 
ing the  culprit  in  a  state  of  confinement  till  the 
will  of  the  infinitely  wise  LaAvgiver  should  be 
known  in  reference  to  him. 

It  will  readily  be  supposed  that  the  prayer  of 
Moses,  on  an  occasion  like  this,  would  not  long 
remain  unanswered.  Jehovah  directs  that  the 
offender  be  brought  forth,  that  the  witnesses  who 
heard  him  utter  the  awfully  criminal  language 
should  distinguish  him  by  laying  their  hands 
upon  his  head,  that  the  whole  body  of  the  people 
should  unite  in  stoning  him,  and  that  henceforth 
those  who  offended  in  a  similar  manner  should 
be  thus  put  to  death. 

Disposed,  as  we  naturally  are,  to  entertain 
hard  thoughts  of  God,  we  may  be  ready  to  say 
that  this  punishment  was  too  severe.  A  similar 
idea  has  been  expressed  by  infidels  in  reference 
to  Nadab  and  Abihu,  who  were  destroyed  for 
offering  strange  fire  before  the  Lord  ;  the  Bethshe- 
mites  for  looking  into  the  ark ;  and  Uzzah,  who 
put  forth  his  hand  to  preserve  it  from  falling. 
But  let  it  be  remembered,  that  in  each  case  there 
was  a  direct  violation  of  the  Divine  law,  which 
20 


226  THE    BLASPHEMER   STONED. 

had  been  given  in  a  manner  eminently  marked 
by  the  i^reatest  solemnity.  It  is  not  reckoned  a 
small  crime  to  commit  treason  against  an  earthly 
monarch,  even  thongh  the  offender  may  be  un- 
able to  do  him  an  injury,  yet  the  disposition  to  do 
that  injury  is  primarily  regarded  ;  and,  shall  trea- 
son against  the  Majesty  of  heaven  go  unnoticed, 
when  the  punishment  is  awarded  by  Infinite  wis- 
dom and  justice,  to  whom  the  actual  guilt  of  the 
sinner  is  perfectly  known  ?  It  is  unreasonable 
that  a  company  of  rebels  should  be  allowed  to 
dispute  the  justice  of  a  punishment  which  they 
have  themselves  incurred.  By  our  transgres- 
sions we  have  offended  our  Maker,  and  it  be- 
comes us  at  once  to  acknowledge  his  equity  in 
our  punishment,  and  to  avail  ourselves  of  the  pri- 
vilege he  has  given  us  of  imploring  his  mercy. 

Sentence  having  been  passed  upon  the  offender 
by  an  infallible  judge,  no  time  must  be  lost  in 
putting  it  into  execution.  The  scene  is  indes- 
cribably affecting.  Those  who  had  heard  him 
utter  the  language,  which  they  trembled  to  re- 
peat, are  called  forth  witli  him  without  the  camp, 
and  commanded  to  lay  their  hands  upon  his 
head  ;  thus  pointing  him  out  as  the  offender, 
practically  refusing  to  share  his  guilt  by  conceal- 
inof  it  from  their  neio^hbours,  and  e^iving^  him  up 
to  the  displeasure  of  the  thousar^ds  of  Israel. 


THE    BLASPHEMER    STONED.  227 

It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  this  man  was  not 
to  be  put  to  death  by  means  of  any  particular  per- 
son or  persons,  whoshould  be  especially  appointed 
to  that  painful  office;  but  it  was  to  be  done  by 
"  all  the  congregation."  Did  not  Jehovah  thus  call 
upon  Israel,  each  to  testify  publicly  their  abhor- 
rence of  this  awful  sin — to  shew  an  united  deter- 
mination to  punish  it  in  those  who  micrht  hero- 
after  trano-ress  in  a  similar  manner,  and  to  testi- 
fy against  themselves,  should  they  be  so  unhap- 
py as  to  fall  into  the  crime?  Those  who  have 
punished  others  for  a  sin,  certainly  must  ac- 
knowledge the  justice  of  their  own  punishment 
in  a  similar  case.  This  kind  of  death  was  ever 
after,  according  to  the  appointment  of  Jehovah, 
inflicted  on  ttiose  who  committed  this  crime  j 
but  it  is  very  deeply  to  be  regretted,  that  in  after 
times  the  severity  of  it  extended  to  those  who  in 
the  opinion  ofmierested  persons  had  been  guilty 
of  constructive  blasphemy.  For  this  the  Sa- 
viour himself,  as  well  as  Stephen,  the  first  Chris- 
tian martyr,  was  put  to  death.  It  is  a  dangerous 
thing  to  leave  the  plain  dictates  of  revelation, 
and  to  apply  the  laws  of  God  to  cases  for  which 
they  were  never  designed.  If  we  once  do  this, 
it  is  difficult  to  say  at  what  absurdity  we  may 
arrive.  A  wrono^  view  of  the  laws  of  heaven 
has  laid  the  foundation  of,  by  far,  the  larger  pro- 
portion of  the  persecutions  which  have  deluged 


228  THE    BLASPHEMER   STONED. 

the  Christian  church  with  blood,  and  which 
are  now  caUing  for  the  vengeance  of  Jehovah 
upon  their  authors. 

This  affecting  portion  of  the  holy  volume  is 
eminently  calculated  to  impress  our  minds  with 
the  awful  extent  of  human  depravity,  which 
will  lead  us  even  to  curse  the  author  of  our  being, 
and  the  giver  of  our  mercies.  It  shews  us  the 
melancholy  result  of  young  persons  having  bad 
examples  placed  before  them.  It  is  probable  that 
this  young  man  had  heard  his  father  in  Egypt 
curse  his  idols,  when  the  desires  he  had  present- 
ed to  them  had  not  been  gratified  ;  and  he  now 
applies  similar  language  in  reference  to  the  God 
of  Israel,  bringing  down  his  wrath  upon  him- 
self We  see  the  importance  of  caution  in  refer- 
ence to  the  connexions  we  form,  seeing  that 
sinners  not  only  bring  the  vengeance  of  heaven 
upon  themselves,  but  scatter  misery  around  the 
whole  circle  in  which  they  move.  It  becomes 
us,  we  farther  learn,  to  entertain  feelings  of  the 
most  profound  reverence  towards  God,  and  to  be 
satisfied  with  the  arrangements  of  his  provi- 
dence ;  because,  in  some  way  or  other,  we  shall 
see  the  effects  of  his  jealousy,  and  be  punished 
for  our  sins.  Let  each  of  my  readers  seek  an  in- 
terest in  His  favour,  through  the  mediation  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ :  for  "it  is  a  fearful  thing 
to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God." 


THE  SERPENTS. 

NUMBERS,    XXt. 

With  fiery  serpents  greatly  pained, 

When  Israel's  mourning  tribes  complained, 

And  sigh'd  to  be  relieved  ; 
A  serpent  straight  the  Proph-et  made 
Of  molten  brass,  to  view  displayed  : 

The  patients  looked,  and  lived  ! 

Anon. 

It  should  ever  be  the  dehght  of  those  who  are 
blessed  with  the  powers  of  reason  to  review  the 
deaUns^s  of  the  Great  Jehovah  with  mankind  in 
every  successive  age.     Such  a  retrospect  will  in- 
struct us  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Divine  charac- 
ter, the  nature  of  the  claims  He  makes  on  our 
love  and  obedience,  and  tend  to  deliver  us  from 
the  temptations  to  which  we  are  exposed  from 
Satan  and  the  world.     To  assist  us  in  this  profit- 
able duty,  the  God  of  wisdom  and  mercy  has 
given  us  the  sacred  volume,  which  we  do  well 
to  regard  as  a  light  shining  in  this  dark  world, 
to  lead  our  feet  into  the  ways  of  peace. 
20* 


230  THE    SERPENTS. 

The  events  to  which  we  would  now  invite  the 
attention  of  the  reader,  happened  in  the  imme- 
diate neighbourhood  of  Edom,  or  Idumea,  on  the 
borders  of  the  land  of  Canaan,  about  the  year  of  the 
world  2553,  nearly  forty  years  after  the  deliver- 
ance of  the  Israelites  from  Egypt,  a  little  before 
they  entered  into  possession  of  the  land  of  Ca- 
naan, and  about  one  thousand  four  hundred  and 
fifty-one  years  before  the  incarnation  of  the  Mes- 
siah. 

It  will  be  remembered  by  our  readers,  that 
the  Israelites  displayed  a  very  awful  degree  of 
rebellion  against  the  law  and  authority  of  the 
blessed  God  ;  that  they  frequently  murmured  at 
his  government  and  Providence  ;  and  that,  as  the 
consequence,  the  Divine  anger  was  often  mani- 
fested against  them.  To  punish  them  for  their 
sins,  and  to  accomplish  other  important  designs 
of  Jehovah,  their  stay  in  the  wilderness  which 
lay  between  Egypt  and  Canaan  was  protracted 
to  the  very  long  period  of  forty  years.  At  the 
time,  however,  to  which  we  now  have  reference, 
they  were  brought  nearly  to  the  borders  of  the 
promised  land,  and  expected  to  have  passed  di- 
rectly through  Idumea,  and  have  taken  posses- 
sion of  it.  But,  disappointed  by  Infinite  Wisdom 
of  tlieir  hopes,  wearied  with  their  journey,  de- 
pressed in  their  spirits,  and,  above  all,  under  the 


THE    SERPENTS.  231 

influence  of  Satanic  agency,  they  found  fault 
with  the  conduct  of  their  heavenly  Benefactor, 
murmured  against  his  servant  Moses,  and  disap- 
proved of  the  provisions,  which  he,  in  a  miracu- 
lous manner,  had  given  them,  without  labour  on 
their  part,  during  their  long  pilgrimage. 

It  was  not  to  be  expected  that  a  Being  so  holy 
and  powerful  as  Jehovah,  would  allow  them  thus 
to  sin,  without  manifesting  marks  of  his  dis- 
pleasure. The  goodness  he  had  shewn,  and  the 
honour  he  had  put  upon  them  in  making  them 
his  people,  would  awfully  increase  their  guilt ; 
and  we  shall  now  find  that  his  anger  was  dis- 
played in  a  way  which  must  have  convinced  all 
of  the  cause  of  their  sufferings,  and  the  inevita- 
able  consequences  of  sin. 

The  wilderness  in  which  the  Israelites  now 
were,  according  to  the  accounts  furnished  us  by 
highly  respectable  travellers,  was,  and  indeed  con- 
tinues to  be,  infested  by  great  numbers  of  ser- 
pents, of  a  brilliant,  fiery  colour,  whose  bite  pro- 
duced considerable  inflammation,  and  an  acute 
pain  similar  to  that  inflicted  by  fire,  which  gene- 
rally proved  fatal  to  those  who  were  unfortunate- 
ly wounded  by  them.  The  Supreme  Being  al- 
lowed these  serpents  to  increase  in  great  num- 
bers among  the  people,  and  to  make,  by  their  fa- 
tal ravages,  many  thousands  of  them  monuments 
of  his  displeasure. 


232  THE    SERPENTS. 

It  would  be  very  difficult  for  us  to  form  a  cor^ 
rect  and  full  idea  of  the  mischief  effected  by  these 
destructive  creatures  amon^  a  body  of  several 
millions  of  persons.    Multitudes  rose  in  the  morn- 
in^  in  their  accustomed  health,  rejoicing  in  their 
connexions,  and  pleased  with  the  hope  of  soon 
surmounting  their  present  trials,  and  enterinor  the 
land  described  to  them  as  flowing  with  milk  and 
honey.     But,  alas  !  stepping  to  the  door  of  the 
tent,  perhaps  to  gather  up  their  allotted  portion 
of  manna  for  the  day,  or  to  transact  business  with 
an  acquaintance,  they  are  bitten   by   one  of  these 
reptiles  ;  poison   is  infused  into  the  blood ;  the 
part  aflected  is  swollen,  and  in  a  very  few  hours 
they   lie  cold  and    stiff  in    the  arms  of  death. 
Tluis  thousands,  and  probably  tens  of  thousands, 
in  a  very  few  days,  fell  victims  to  an  incensed 
Deity,  and  proclaimed  to  future  ages,  ''It  is  a  fear- 
ful thing'  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God." 
Who  shall  describe  to  us  the  confusion    and 
sorrow  which  now  universally  prevail  ?     In  this 
tent  lies  the  corpse  of  a  beloved  and  only  child, 
the  hope  and  solace  of  its  parents  ;  but  it  is  gone, 
and  they  weep,  refusing  to  be  comforted  :    there 
the  bereaved  husband  is  seen  bending  over  the 
inanimate  body  of  her  who   but  yesterday  was 
the  blooming  beauty,  and  the  lovely  bride;  yon- 
der is  the  interesting  female  bedewing  with  heir 


THE    SERPENTS.  233 

tears  the  lifeless  remains  of  one  to  whom  she,  but 
a  few  hours  ago,  hoped  to  be  united  for  many- 
years  to  come  ;  and  at  a  Uttle  distance  we  may  see 
the  aged  couple,  binding  under  the  weight  of 
years,  committing  the  prop  of  their  age  to  the 
silent  dust ;  and  as  they  are  engaged  in  this  act, 
they  themselves  have  the  mortal  bite  inflicted  on 
them.  Oh,  sin  !  how  dreadful  are  thy  ravages  ! 
It  is  easy  to  bring  on  ourselves  merited  punish- 
ment ;  but,  alas  !  we  cannot  dismiss,  as  we  would, 
the  consequences  of  our  transgressions. 

It  is  well  when  our  trials  lead  us  to  reflection 
and  humiliation.  The  Israelites,  thus  visited 
with  a  painful  dispensation,  losing  their  beloved 
connexions,  seeing  thousands  of  their  kindred 
changed  to  corpses,  and  assured  that  no  human 
arm  could  save  tliem,  very  properly  applied  to 
Moses,  their  leader,  and  the  friend  of  God.  They 
knew  that  his  prayers  had  power  with  Jehovah, 
they  hoped  that  his  mediation  with  him  would 
now  be  accepted,  and  they  felt  it  to  be  right  to 
acknowledge  their  sins  both  against  heaven  and 
Moses. 

Happily  for  Israel,  Moses  was  a  man  eminent- 
ly distinguished  for  his  meekness  ;  and  when 
they  consulted  him  he  did  not  reproach  them 
with  their  past  crimes  :  but  seeing  proofs  of  repen- 
tance, and  feeling  an  ardent  desire  for  their  de- 


234  THE    SERPENTS, 

liverance  and  happiness,  he  bowed  before  the 
throne  of  Jehovah,  and  used  his  mighty  influ- 
ence in  their  favour.  Nor  was  his  intercession 
in  vain,  for  the  Lord  heard,  and  at  once  prepared 
a  remedy. 

A  thousand  times  has  it  been  seen,  that,  in  or- 
der to  accomphsh  his  purposes,  the  Governor  of 
the  Universe  employs  different  means  to  those 
which  would  be  selected  by  his  creatures.  "His 
ways  are  not  as  our  ways,  neither  are  his  thoughts 
as  our  thoughts. "  We  should  have  supposed 
that  a  council  would  have  been  convened  o  f 
tliose  who  were  most  eminent  for  medical  skill, 
and  that  their  combined  wisdom  might  have  dis- 
covered some  method  of  cure.  But  Jehovah  re- 
solved on  a  remedy  which  in  itself  possessed  no 
virtue ;  but  which,  owing  its  efficacy  solely  to  its 
being  his  appointment,  sfiould  impress  the  people 
with  a  sense  of  their  entire  dependence  on  Him, 
and  ensure  to  himself  the  whole  glory  of  their  re- 
covery. Moses  was  directed  to  make  a  serpent  of 
brass,  to  elevate  it  on  a  pole  in  the  midst  of  the 
camp,  to  proclaim  that  whoever  had  been  bitten 
nufrhi  look  upon  it,  and  that,  though  dyins:,  such 
persons  should  instantly  recover.  What  a  display- 
was  this  of  infinite  mercy  ; — what  a  remarkable 
interposition  in  favour  of  Israel  ! 

We  can  easily  imagine  the  suggestions  of  m- 


THE    SERPENTS.  235 

fidelity  on  the  one  hand,  and  the  triumphs  of 
faith  on  the  other,  on  this  occasion.  It  is  quite 
probable  that  when  the  proclamation  was  made 
through  the  camp,  some  persons  would  begin  to 
reason  on  the  improbability  of  the  remedy,  and 
would  argue — that  as  looking  at  a  serpent  made 
of  brass  could  possess  no  medicinal  virtue,  it 
could  not  be  the  appointment  of  Jehovah  :  and 
it  is  quite  possible  that  with  these  views  some 
might  refuse  to  look,  and  die.  Others,  however, 
smarting  under  excruciating  pain,  reduced  to 
despair  as  to  all  human  help,  and  just  ready  to 
expire,  would  joyfully  listen  to  the  declaration 
of  the  acknowledged  servant  of  God,  would 
exult  in  the  provision  of  a  remedy  so  free,  sim- 
ple, and  efficacious  ;  and  would  earnestly  look, 
and  thus  derive  life.  How  fondly  does  the  fancy 
dwell  on  the  happy  scenes  thus  produced,  by  the 
blessing  of  Jehovah,  on  the  means  he  had  ap- 
pointed for  the  recovery  of  his  people !  How 
much  happiness  would  be  diffused  through  nu- 
merous families,  by  the  happy  recoveries  which 
took  place  among  them  !  While  the  justice  of 
the  Deity  was  manifested  by  punishing  in  this 
awful  manner  those  who  rebelled  ag.iinst  Him, 
his  mercy  was  at  least  equally  displayed  by  the 
recovery  of  those  who  exercise  faith  in  his  word. 
How  striking  an  illustration  does  this  narra- 


236  THE    SERPENTS. 

live  afford  us  of  the  way  of  salvation  by  Christ 
Jesus  !  Twice,  at  least,  did  the  [Saviour  refer 
to  it  in  this  way  ;  when  he  said  to  Nicodemus, 
"  As  Moses  lifted  up  the  serpent  in  the  wilder- 
ness, even  so  must  the  Son  of  man  be  lifted  up  ; 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not 
perish,  but  have  eternal  life  :"  and  when  he  af- 
terwards said  to  his  disciples,  "  And  I,  if  I  be 
lifted  up,  will  draw  all  men  unto  me."  He  is 
the  appointed  remedy  to  whom  perishing  and 
dying  sinners  can  alone  look  for  life  and  salva- 
tion ;  the  way  of  obtaining  mercy  is  by  the  be- 
lief of  the  truth  concerning  him,  and  placing  a 
simple  reliance  on  his  favour  ;  thousands  are 
found  to  despise  his  mercy,  and  they  perish  for 
ever  ;  otiiers  are  constrained  to  look  unto  him, 
and  they  are  saved.  May  it  be  equally  the  hap- 
piness of  the  writer  and  his  readers  to  believe  in 
this  great  Deliverer,  and  to  experience  the  bles- 
sings of  his  infinite  grace. 


THE  HYPOCRITICAL  PROPHET. 

NUMBERS,    XXII. —  XXIV. 

Cluit,  dark  Hypocrisy,  thy  thin  disguise, 
Nor  think  to  cheat  the  notice  of  the  skies  ! 
Unsocial  Avarice,  thy  grasp  forego. 
And  bid  the  useful  treasure  learn  to  flow  ! 
Restore,  Injustice,  the  defrauded  gain  ! 
Oppression,  bend  to  ease  the  captive's  chain, 
Ere  awful  Justice  strike  the  awful  blow ! 
And  drive  you  to  the  realms  of  night  below ! 

BOTSB. 

Few  things  are  more  painfully  affecting  to  a 
rightly  constituted  mind,  than  the  idea  of  a  man 
who  yet  remains  an  enemy  to  God,  being  en- 
gaged as  a  minister  in  holy  things.  He  who 
bears  messages  from  Jehovah  to  man,  should 
have  a  love  to  the  Being  by  whom  he  is  sent, 
and  to  the  message  he  is  honoured  to  carry. 
And  yet  it  is  greatly  to  be  feared,  that  many  who 
have  been  the  bearers  of  blessings  to  others,  have 
not  been  partakers  of  them  themselves.  Judas 
published  the  glories  and  the  grace  of  Christ, 
and  after  all,  was  lost;  Caiaphas,  the  Jewish 
high-priest,  declared  "  that  it  was  expedient  for 
21 


238  THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET. 

one  man  to  die  for  the  people,  to  gather  together 
in  one  the  people  of  God,  who  were  scattered 
abroad ;''  but  we  have  no  reason  to  conclude, 
tiiat  he  shared  in  the  happy  effects  which  result- 
ed from  the  Messiah's  death.  Saul  was  found 
among  the  prophets,  but  retained  his  evil  dispo- 
sitions ;  and  Balaam,  whose  history  is  now  briefly 
to  pass  under  our  review,  uttered  many  very  im- 
portant truths,  but  lived  "  loving  the  wages  of 
unrighteousness,"  and  died  as  an  enemy  to  the 
divine  government. 

It  appears  that,  in  the  earlier  agesof  the  world, 
when  one  nation  warred  against  another,  they 
tried  in  various  ways  to  obtain  the  favour  of 
their  respective  idols,  and  to  incense  them  against 
their  enemies.  In  order  to  effect  this,  they  ap- 
plied to  their  prophets,  and  to  those  who  prac- 
tised the  various  arts  of  enchantment.  The 
people  of  Israel,  in  their  journey  towards  Canaan, 
had  come  into  the  neighbourhood  of  Moab,  the 
inhabitants  of  which  united  m  their  opposition 
to  those  whom  they  improperly  accounted  their 
enemies.  They  had  heard  of  the  fame  of  Ba- 
laam, though  he  lived  at  a  considerable  distance 
from  them,  and  they  thought  it  desirable  to  en- 
sure his  services,  and  to  prevail  upon  him  to 
come  and  cnrse  the  Israelites,  thus  by  his  arts  of 
divination  to  effect  their  ruin.     For  this  purpose, 


THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET.  239 

according  to  the  usao^e  of  that  country  and  age, 
they  despatched  messengers  conveying  presents 
to  him,  and  intreating  him  immediately  to  visit 
them,  to  accomplish  the  object  they  so  ardently 
desired. 

Whether  Balaam  had,  or  had  not,  pre- 
viously been  employed  by  the  blessed  God"  as  a 
true  prophet,  it  would  be  difficult  for  us  to  deter- 
mine :  it  is  certain  that  some  among  the  heathen 
nations  had,  before  this,  heard  of  Jehovah,  and 
had  been  taught  to  worship  him,  and  it  is  not 
improbable  that  Balaam  had  been  one  of  the  in- 
struments employed  to  diffuse  that  knowledge. 
If  this  was  the  case,  his  situation  must  have  been 
a  truly  melancholy  one ;  having  to  unfold  the 
character  and  benevolence  of  that  Being  whose 
favour  he  had  never  sought,  and  whose  wrath  he 
should  hereafter  himself  experience.  It  is  cer- 
tain, however,  that  if  he  were  a  true  prophet,  he 
was  also  a  magician,  and  used  arts  for  the  injury 
of  mankind.  There  are  those  who  destroy  the 
good  they  might  otherwise  do,  by  the  evil  which 
forms  a  prominent  part  of  their  character. 

It  is  observable,  that  a  solemn  awe,  in  refer- 
ence to  Jehovah,  rested  on  the  mind  of  Balaam ; 
for  ardently  desirous,  as  he  evidently  was,  from 
the  very  first,  to  undertake  the  business  desired 
by  Balak,  yet  he  dared  not  to  do  it  until  he  had 


240  THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET. 

consulted,  and  obtained  the  permission  of  the 
God  of  Israel,  against  whom  no  enchantments 
could  prevail,  and  whose  displeasure  could  not 
be  withstood.  And  yet,  had  the  fear  of  God 
duly  influenced  his  heart,  he  would  instantly 
have  refused  to  have  accompanied  the  messen- 
gers, to  undertake  the  unholy  task,  and  would 
have  sent  them  back  with  a  reply,  that  would 
have  prevented  any  farther  application  to  him  for 
so  unhallowed  a  purpose.  When  evil  is  not 
heartily  resisted,  we  tempt  our  enemies  to  en- 
snare us  into  the  paths  of  transgression.  We 
see  in  Balaam  a  strikino-  instance  of  a  man's  na- 
turally covetous  disposition  acting  in  opposition 
to  an  enljofiitened  understandino^. 

Notliing  can  be  more  evident  than  that  Ba- 
laam had  a  heart  set  on  the  possession  of  as  much 
of  the  wealth  of  this  world  as  possible.  This 
was  apparent  to  the  messengers  sent  by  Balak, 
to  effect  the  destruction  of  the  Israelites.  He 
does  not  display  the  noble  spirit  of  an  apostle  in 
after  days,  who,  when  he  was  oflfered  money  for 
the  bestowment  of  the  remarkable  gifts  with 
which  he  was  endowed,  replied,  "  Thy  money 
perish  with  thee."  Balaam  regretted  that  he 
could  not  fulfil  the  requests  of  the  king  of  Moab  ; 
but  God  had  restrained  him.  Jehovah  had  bless- 
ed his  people,  and  prohibited  Balaam  from  de- 


THE   HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET.  241 

livering  a  curse  which  never  could  be  put  into 
execution.  If  sinners  do  not  more  frequently  in- 
jure the  people  of  God,  it  is  not  because  they  are 
unwilling  to  do  it,  but  because  they  are  restrain- 
ed by  the  hand  of  Omnipotence,  which  is  ever 
engaged  in  protecting  and  blessing  those  who 
are  devoted  to  his  service. 

Having  learnt  something  of  the  disposition  of 
the  prophet,  and  being  convinced  that  he  was 
not  averse  to  the  task  he  would  impose  upon 
him,  Balak  resolves  to  make  another  attempt  to 
accomplish  his  object.  And  now  he  would  send 
a  larger  and  more  honourable  embassy  to  work 
upon  the  pride  of  Balaam  ;  he  will  promise  great 
honours  to  feed  his  ambition,  as  well  as  immense 
riches  to  gratify  his  covetousness.  The  supposed 
good  things  of  the  present  state  are  all  that  the 
men  of  the  world  seek  after,  and  they  are  great- 
ly disappointed,  when  Divine  Providence  seems 
opposed  to  their  obtaininor  them.  Balaam  spoke 
a  truth,  which  ministered  not  a  little  to  his  mor- 
tification, when  he  declared,  that "  if  Balak  would 
give  him  his  house  full  of  silver  and  gold,  he 
could  not  go  beyond  the  word  of  Jehovah,  to  do 
less  or  more."  And  yet,  the  temptation  now  laid 
before  him  was  so  great,  that  he  resolves,  if  pos- 
sible, to  accomplish  the  desired  end,  and  pos- 
sess the  promised  good.  So  true  is  it,  that  "  they 
who  will  be  rich  fall  into  divers  temptations." 
21* 


242  THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET. 

When  Jehovah  would  destroy  a  sinner,  he 
need  not  call  to  the  thunderbolts  of  his  vengeance 
to  descend  and  crush  him  to  atoms  ;  he  has  only 
to  allow  him  to  take  the  consequences  of  his 
own  ways.  Thus,  when  the  Israelites,  personi- 
fied by  Ephraim,  had  fallen  into  idolatry,  he 
said,  "  Ephraim  is  joined  to  idols  ;  let  him  alone ;" 
that  is,  let  him  take  the  natural  results  of  the  sin 
he  has  chosen  to  commit.  Balaam  was  very  de- 
sirous of  being  allowed  to  curse  Israel,  and  of 
obtaining  the  honour  and  wealth  which  had 
been  offered  to  him,  and  God,  in  displeasure,  at 
length  permitted  him  to  gratify  his  evil  desires. 
It  is  seldom,  however,  that  Jehovah'permits  a  man 
to  sin  without  some  difficulty.  He  hedged  up 
the  way  of  idolatrous  Israel  "  with  thorns,"  and 
imposed  upon  Balaam  a  condition  in  connexion 
with  permission  to  visit  the  king  of  Moab.  If 
the  men  called  him,  he  might  go  ;  and  if  he  went, 
he  must  be  content  to  speak  only  as  the  Lord 
had  commanded  him.  The  difficulties  in  our 
path,  against  which  we  often  murmur,  are  often 
placed  there  in  mercy,  and  it  would  be  well,  if 
they  more  frequently  led  us  to  review  our  ways. 
We  are  not  surprised  tliat  a  man  so  bent  on  sin 
as  Balaam  was,  violated  the  injunction  of  the 
Supreme  Being,  and  rose  early  to  depart  with 
the  princes  of  Moab,  on  the  awful  errand  of  curs- 
ing Israel. 


THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET.  24.3 

We  see  him,  then,  on  his  way,  probably  not  a 
little  elated  with  the  thought  of  the  object  he  had 
supremely  desired  being  obtained.  He  had  in  his 
view,  and  already  began  to  enjoy,  the  honours 
and  the  wealth  on  which  his  covetous  heart  was 
set:  he  probably  calculated  on  a  long  life,  spent 
in  pomp  and  splendour,  and  did  not  imagine, 
even  for  a  moment,  that  all  his  wishes  might  end 
in  disappointment.  Sinners  are  apt  to  indulge 
in  confidence,  forgetting,  that  "  He  who  sittelh  on 
high,"  can  tfirow  their  best  concerted  plans  into 
confusion,  and  in  a  moment,  blast  their  finest 
prospects. 

It  is  really  surprising  to  see  how  Jehovah  in- 
terposes obstacles  in  the  way  of  the  transgressor, 
and  how  the  sinner  yet  determines  to  persevere  in 
the  way  of  iniquity.  The  Divine  anger  is  kin- 
dled against  the  madness  of  the  prophet,  "  and  the 
angel  of  the  Lord  stood  in  the  way  for  an  ad- 
versary against  him."  By  this  angel  of  the  Lord, 
it  is  highly  probable,  we  are  to  understand  that 
exalted  personage  who  afterwards  appeared  in 
our  world  as  "  the  Messenger  of  the  covenant," 
and  who  has  ever  presented  the  most  cogent 
arguments  to  mankind  why  they  should  refrain 
from  sin.  The  way  he  takes  to  excite  the  atten- 
tion of  Balaam,  and  to  convey  reproof  to  him,  is 
singularly  striking.     Balaam,  as  was  customary 


244  THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET. 

in  that  age  and  country,  even  to  persons  of  the 
highest  rank,  travelled  upon  an  ass,  and  was  ac- 
companied, not  only  by  the  distinguished  person- 
ages who  escorted  him  to  their  country,  but  also 
by  two  servants  of  his  own.  The  angel  present- 
ed himself  with  a  drawn  sv/ord  in  his  hand,  but 
appears  to  have  been  only  observed  by  the  ass  on 
which  the  prophet  rode.  The  animal,  alarmed 
by  so  uncommon  a  sight,  first  turned  out  of  the 
way,  then  fell  against  the  wall,  and  crushed  the 
foot  of  her  master  ;  and  then,  under  the  influence 
of  still  greater  terror,  fell  down  under  him.  All 
this  excited  the  anger  of  Balaam,  and,  as  a  wick- 
ed man  is  almost  always  a  cruel  one,  he  smote 
the  ass  with  his  staff.  He  was  so  intent  on  his 
wicked  errand,  that  he  could  not  stay  to  inquire 
the  cause  of  her  thus  treating  him.  One  might 
have  supposed  that  he  would  begin  to  think,  that 
the  hand  of  God  was  thus  presenting  obstacles  to 
his  progress ;  but,  alas !  thoughtlessness,  and 
a  neglect  of  observing  the  operations  of  the  hand 
of  Jehovah,  destroy  millions. 

A  miracle  was  now  exerted  to  bring  the  pro- 
phet to  reflection.  The  ass,  hitherto,  from  the 
creation  of  the  world  itself,  dumb,  began  to  up- 
braid him,  and  to  reason  with  him  on  the  subject 
of  his  cruelty.  It  appears,  however,  that  his 
passion  was  so  violent,  that  he  was  not  aware  of 


THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET.  245 

the  extraordinary  occurrence  of  a  dumb  animal 
being  made  to  speak,  and  he  persevered  in  his 
cruel  threats,  that  if  he  possessed  a  sword  he 
would  destroy  the  beast  which  had  long:  faith- 
fully served  him.  Sinners  are  frequently  so  in- 
tent on  their  awful  criminalities,  that  they  are  not 
aware  of  the  obstacles  God  places  in  the  way  of 
their  sinnino;  ajrainst  him,  or  of  the  threateninors 
which  he  utters  against  them,  till  it  is  too  late,  and 
then  they  blame  him  rather  than  themselves  for 
their  ruin. 

Infidels  have  not  failed  to  make  this  portion  of 
the  word  of  God  a  subject  for  ridicule.  They 
have  told  us  how  very  unfit  the  construction  of 
an  ass's  jaws  and  mouth  are  for  speaking ;  but 
have  they  forgotten,  that  even  the  heathen  did 
not  think  that  the  accomplishment  of  these  things 
was  beyond  the  power  of  their  deities,  and  that 
the  sacred  text  expressly  informs  us,  that 
"  Jehovah  opened  the  mouth  of  the  ass"  ?  A 
cause  surely  adequate  to  the  effect ;  unless,  in- 
deed, it  can  be  proved,  either  that  Jehovah  was 
unequal  to  the  task,  or  that  this  was  an  occasion 
unworthy  of  so  great  a  miracle  being  wrought. 
It  has  been  very  aptly  said,  that  the  circum- 
stance of  the  ass  speaking  to  Balaam  must  very 
powerfully  impress  his  mind  with  the  fact,  that 
his  own  language  was  under  the  control  of  Jeho- 


246  THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET. 

vah,  and  that  he  could  make  him  speak  contrary 
to  his  wishes. 

At  this  moment,  the  eyes  of  Balaam  were 
opened  by  supernatural  agency,  and  he  saw  the 
angelic  being  by  whom  the  ass  had  been  obstrtict- 
ed.  This  must,  indeed,  very  forcibly  affect  his 
mind.  Manoah  and  his  wife,  the  prophet's  ser- 
vant, and.  indeed,  all  who  have  seen  angels,  have 
been  filled  with  awe  when  they  have  beheld 
them;  how  much,  then,  must  the  wicked  Balaam 
feel,  when  he  saw  Jehovah  appear  in  the  form  of 
an  angel !  His  sins  would  rush  to  his  memory, 
and  his  conscience  would  bitterly  reproach  him. 
In  terror  and  dismay  he  bowed  down  his  head, 
fell  fiat  on  his  face,  and  listened,  with  trembling, 
to  the  reproof  and  expostulation  of  so  great  a 
Being. 

But,  alas  !  the  impressions  of  a  serious  kind  made 
on  the  mind  of  a  wicked  man,  are  usually  very 
transient.  Felix  trembles,  but  his  agitation  of 
mind  is  soon  exchanged  for  mirth  ;  Agrippa  is 
almost  persuaded  to  be  a  Christian,  but  his  feel- 
ings on  the  subject  are  soon  altered  ;  and  Balaam, 
feeling  he  is  wrong,  proposes  for  the  moment  to 
relurn  to  his  home,  and  not  pursue  his  journey  ; 
but,  having  permission  from  the  angel  to  go  on, 
even  thousfh  it  is  accompanied  with  an  intimation 
that  he  would  fail  in  his  object,  he  yet  perseveres. 


THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET.  247 

So  intent  are  men  on  their  own  gratification,  and 
so  decidedly  do  they  disbelieve  the  words  of  Je- 
hovah, that  nothing  but  Ahnighty  power  can 
draw  them  from  their  sins. 

He  soon  arrives  on  the  borders  of  Moab,  where 
he  is  met  by  the  king,  and  surrounded,  no  doubtj 
by  great  splendour  and  state.  A  gende  reproof 
is  given  by  his  majesty,  who  again  reminds  the 
prophet  how  he  can  exalt  him  to  honour.  Ba- 
latim,  in  reply,  utters  a  very  important  truth,  the 
existence  of  which  he  deeply  regretted ;  and,  by 
the  manner  in  which  he  uttered  it,  he  seems  to 
profess  feehngs  of  piety,  to  which  he  was  an  utter 
stranger  : — "  Lo,  1  am  come  unto  thee  :  have  I 
now  any  power  at  all  to  say  anything?  The 
word  that  God  putteth  in  my  mouth,  that  shall  I 
speak."  This  was  all  true,  and  was  adapted  to 
console  Israel,  while  it  would  ultimately  fill  the 
hypocritical  prophet  and  his  royal  employer  with- 
fear  and  dismay. 

Great  preparations  were  soon  made  for  the  im- 
portant ceremony  in  prospect, — that  of  cursmg 
the  innocent  Israelites.  Conformably  to  the 
practice  of  the  heathens  in  reference  to  their  idols, 
seven  jiltars  are  erected  to  the  honour  of  Jehovah, 
and  the  sacrifices  to  be  offered  on  each  are  pre- 
pared. Was  Balaam  ignorant,  then,  that  the  God 
of  Israel  was  but  one  Lord,  and  that,  to  shew  his 


24S  THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET. 

unity,  he  had  commanded  but  one  altar  to  be 
erected  to  his  worship  ;  or  was  he  determined,  by 
the  excess  of  the  honours  he  would  pay  him,  to 
propitiate  his  favour  ?  How  foolish  are  those 
persons  who  refuse  to  adore  God  in  the  way  he 
has  himself  apponited,  and  prefer  their  own  plans, 
conceiving  them  to  be  wiser  than  his!  The 
sacrifices  of  such  are  an  abomination  to  the 
Lord,  who,  in  his  jealousy,  will  assuredly  pun- 
ish those  who  ofier  them. 

The  preparations  being  made,  we  may  imagine 
that  a  vast  multitude  are  assembled  to  hear  the 
anathemas  of  this  celebrated  prophet  of  the  East 
upon  the  descendants  of  Israel.  But  what  sur- 
prise and  mortification  must  take  possession  of 
their  hearts,  when  he  opens  his  mouth,  and,  as 
directed  by  the  Most  High,  delivers  a  most  sub- 
lime addresson  the  grandeur  of  Him  who  favours 
the  Israelites — the  protection  they  shall  enjoy — 
the  increase  they  shall  receive — and  closes  all  by 
declaring  his  fervent  wish  to  die  like  them,  and 
share  their  immortality  ! 

Grieved  with  his  conduct,  and  willing  to  attri- 
bute it  to  any  cause  but  tiie  right  one,  the  mo- 
narch removes  the  prophet  to  another  spot,  and 
having  attended  to  the  preparatory  ceremonies, 
the  prophet  again  speaks;  but  it  is  to  confirm  all 
that  he  has  previously  said, — to  declare  the  im- 


THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET.  249 

mutability  and  faithfulness  of  Jehovah, — to  tell 
how  favourably  he  regarded  Israel, — and  that  he 
would  continue  to  bless  and  protect  them.  Ba- 
lak  desires  him  now  to  cease  from  speaking,  and 
"neither  to  curse  them  at  all,  nor  bless  them  at 
all ;"  but  Balaam  is  compelled  to  reply,  ''  Told 
not  I  thee,  saying,  All  that  the  Lord  speaketh, 
that  I  must  do  ?" 

Once  more  shall  Balaam  attempt  to  curse  those 
whom  he  himself  has  declared  that  God  has  bless- 
ed ;  but  he  can  only  confirm  the  fact,  that  Jeho- 
vah has  indeed  blessed  them  ;  and,  to  the  morti- 
fication of  the  king  of  Moab,  unfold  to  him  what 
the  Israelites  shall  hereafter  do  in  conquering 
the  nations  who  now  opposed  them  ;  and  point  to 
the  coming  of  the  great  Messiah,  whose  day  he 
saw,  but  whose  grace  he  never  shared.  Having 
thus  delivered  his  message,  Balak,  who  had  so 
earnestly  entreated  his  presence  and  aid,  parted 
from  him  in  disgust.  Bad  men  are  always  op- 
posed to  the  word  of  God,  because  that  word  is 
opposed  to  their  sins. 

Strikingly  as  Balaam  had  declared  the  safety 
of  Israel, — beautifully  as  he  had  described  their 
happiness, — and  earnestly  as  he  wished  to  die  like 
those  who  were  the  servants  of  God,  he  remained 
an  enemy  to  them,  and  gave  their  foes  advice  to 
tempt  Israel  to  sin,  and  thus  led  to  the  destruction 
22 


250  THE    HYPOCRITICAL    PROPHET. 

of  no  less  than  twenty-four  thousand  of  their 
number.  Well  is  it  said,  that  "  one  sinner  des- 
troyeth  much  good."  The  wrath  of  God  follow- 
ed this  impious  man,  till  he  was  cut  off  by  the 
swordj  among  many  other  enemies  of  his  autho- 
rity and  government. 

This  important  history?-,  thus  reviewed,  tends 
to  impress  our  minds  with  the  futility  of  all  the 
designs  of  men  to  injure  those  whom  Jehovah 
designs  to  bless  ;  and  shews  us,  that  he  can  re- 
strain the  enemies  of  his  people,  and  compel 
them  to  bless  those  whom  they  would  gladly 
curse.  We  learn  that  men  may  say  very  good 
things,  and  utter  very  important  desires,  and  yet 
finally  perish.  We  are  instructed  by  the  subject 
to  rejoice  in  the  blessings  with  which  we  are  fa- 
voured, and  to  exercise  a  spirit  of  gratitude  to 
their  great  Author,  while  we  humbly  use  them 
to  promote  his  glory.  May  it  be  the  happiness 
of  my  readers  to  live  the  holy  life,  to  die  the  tri- 
umphant death,  and  to  share  the  exalted  and 
eternal  reward  of  those,  who,  interested  in  the 
grace  of  Christ,  are  righteous  in  the  sight  of  God. 


THE  ENEMY  DISCOVERED. 

JOSHUA,    VII. 

He  that  reposes  on  his  gold, 
Consigns  his  heart  to  toil  and  trouble  ! 
To  visions— beauteous  to  behold — 
That  leave  him,  like  a  bursting  bubble. 

Knox. 

• 

That  the  infinitely  blessed  God  is  benevolent 
in  all  the  gifts  he  bestows  upon  man,  might  be 
very  easily  proved,  and  is  universally  admitted. 
The  supply  of  our  varied  necessities,  the  pro- 
tection he  affords  us  against  our  enemies,  the 
revelation  with  which  he  has  indulged  us  of  the 
way  of  happiness,  and  the  prospect  which  those 
who  believe  his  testimony  have  of  future  and 
eternal  bliss,  are  all  circumstances  calculated  to 
fill  us  with  delight,  and  lead  us  to  exclaim,  with 
one  who  knew  how  to  form  a  correct  estimate  on. 
the  subject,  "  God  is  love  !" 

But  it  does  not  appear  to  be  generally  thought, 
that  Jehovah  makes  so  eminent  a  display  of  his 


252  THE    ENEMY    DISCOVERED. 

kindness  in  what  he  withholds  as  in  what  he 
gives.  This  arises  from  our  ignorance,  and  from 
the  perverseness  of  our  minds,  both  of  which 
lead  us  to  entertain  hard  thoughts  of  God.  He 
is  infinitely  wiser  than  we  are,  and  though  he 
keeps  from  us  many  things  we  might  wish  to 
possess,  we  have  his  own  assurance  that  he  will 
"  withhold  710  good  thing  from  them  that  walk 
uprightly."  Honour,  wealth,  and  influence,  are 
often  withheld  from  the  servants  of  Jehovah,  but 
it  would  not  be  difficult  to  prove,  that  all  these 
things  have  been,  and  might  still  be,  injurious  to 
them.  It  becomes  us  to  entertain  the  conviction, 
that  the  Lord  is  , 

Good  ; — when  lie  gives,  supremely  good  ; 
Noi-  less  when  he  denies. 

The  character  of  God's  dealings  with  his  peo- 
ple may  be  fully  seen  in  the  history  of  the  Is- 
raelites ;  and  the  folly  of  murmuring  against  his 
all-wise  arrangements  is  as  strikingly  evident. 
He  was  pleased,  from  motives  of  mere  mercy,  to 
select  the  family  of  Abraham  as  the  favourites  of 
his  love  ;  to  whom  he  would  impart  the  know- 
ledge of  his  will,  and  on  whom  he  would  bestow 
peculiar  favors,  both  on  earth  and  in  heaven. 
He  delivered  them  from  the  slavery  of  Egypt, 
and,  in  his  own  good  time,  brought  them  to  the 


THE    ENEMY    DISCOVERED.  253 

promised  land  of  Canaan.  But,  because  he 
would  preserve  them  from  a  spirit  of  vain  confi- 
dence and  pride — keep  them  sensible  of  his 
greatness,  and  of  their  consequent  dependence 
upon  him — and  detach  them,  in  some  degree  at 
least,  from  the  world,  he  forbade  them  to  take  for 
their  use  the  riches  of  those  whom  they  slew  in 
battle,  in  order  to  obtain  and  keep  possession  of 
Canaan.  While  this  arrangement  would  tend  to 
secure  the  objects  at  which  we  have  glanced,  it 
would  also  operate  so  as  to  check  a  love  for  war- 
and  prevent  the  heathen  from  saying  that  the  Ca, 
naanites  were  destroyed  merely  that  the  Israelites 
might  possess  themselves  of  their  riches. 

Arrived  in  the  land  of  Canaan,  Joshua,  the 
servant  of  the  Lord,  issued  an  order  to  the  effect 
we  have  stated.  It  was  plainly  expressed,  as  the 
Divine  laws  always  are,  and  the  consequence  ot 
disobedience  was  fully  declared.  It  was  clearly 
the  interest  of  every  Israelite  to  obey  it,  seeing 
that  obedience  to  the  law  of  Jehovah  was  the 
condition  on  which  their  mercies  as  a  nation 
were  suspended.  But,  alas  !  a  very  short  time 
elapsed  before  the  disposition  of  man  to  trans- 
gress the  laws  of  Heaven,  notwithstanding  the; 
awful  sanctions  by  which  they  are  surrounded 
was  fully  developed. 

Among  others  who  heard  the  law  as  issued 
22* 


254  THE    ENEMY    DISCOVERED. 

by  Joshua,  was  a  man  of  the  tribe  of  Judah.  named 
Achan.  He  probably,  at  the  moment,  like  all 
his  neighbours,  resolved  to  keep  the  requirement  ; 
but  he  soon  shewed  that  the  strongest  resolutions 
of  man  avail  nothing  in  the  hour  of  trial  without 
the  aid  of  Divine  grace.  He  went  up  with  the 
army  to  take  the  city  of  Jericho,  and,  having  suc- 
ceeded in  this  great  object,  he  could  not  resist  the 
temptation  to  possess  himself  of  a  share  of  the  pro- 
perty, a  fair  opportunity  of  obtaining  which  pre- 
sented itself. 

There  is  scarcely  a  sin  into  which  we  are 
more  likely  to  fall,  or  which  is  more  awful  in  its 
consequences,  than  that  of  covetousness.  It  is 
delineated  by  the  pencil  of  Eternal  truth  in  the 
most  glowing  colours  ;  and  the  melancholy  doom 
of  those  who  have  indulged  in  it  is  fearfully  por- 
trayed. It  is  pronounced  to  be  idolatry — that 
sin  which  most  directly  strikes  at  the  divine  ho- 
nour ;  it  is  shewn  to  proceed  from  a  distrust  of  the 
providence  of  God — to  be  injurious  both  to  the 
man  who  cherishes  so  unhallowed  a  disposition, 
and  to  those  by  whom  he  is  surrounded.  It  was 
this  sin  which  ruined  Balaam,  and  that  led  Ju- 
das to  betray  the  Saviour  ;  this  transgression  in- 
jured Gehazi  and  Demas  ; — it  blunts  the  finer 
feelings  of  the  soul  of  its  possessor, — it  stops  the 
current  of  benevolence, — chains  the  object  of 


THE    ENEMY   DISCOVERED.  255 

distress  to  his  misery,— and  sets  the  laws  of  hea- 
ven, and  the  contempt  of  men,  aUke  at  defiance. 
The  prayer  of  the  covetous  man  is  shut  out  from 
heaven,  and  the  inhabitants  of  earth  unite  to  hate 
him. 


That  man  may  Inst^  but  never  lives^ 
Who  much  receives,  but  nothing  gives  : 
"Whom  none  can  love — whom  none  can  thank — 
Creation's  blot — Creation's  blank. 

« 

This  awful  crime  was  the  ruin  of  Achan. 
Passing  along  the  streets  of  Jericho,  his  attention 
was  arrested  by  the  sight  of  a  rich  and  splendid 
garment,  and  some  gold  and  silver,  the  value  of 
the  latter  being  from  eighty  to  ninety  pounds  of 
our  money.  His  desire  for  possessing  these  things 
was  great,  and  though  he  knew  that  the  curse 
of  God  rested  upon  them, — he  had  very  recently 
heard  the  law  which  prohibited  their  being  touch- 
ed,— and  had  every  reason  to  fear  that  melancho- 
ly consequences  would  follow  such  a  transac- 
tion ;  yet  he  takes  them,  and  buries  them  under 
his  tent,  intending,  at  some  future  time,  to  appro- 
priate them  to  such  uses  as,  in  his  estimation, 
would  add  to  his  dignity  and  comfort. 

And  what  harni,  some  will  be  ready  to  ask, 
was  there  in  taking  property  that  could  be  of  no 
use  to  its  original  owner,  and  which  had  thus 


256  THE    ENEMY    DISCOVERED. 

been  gained  in  war  1  Let  us  ask  such  persons 
if  there  be  no  sin  in  violating  a  just  and  well- 
known  law  of  Jehovah  ?  Is  there  no  harm  done 
in  bringing  down  the  Divine  displeasure  on  our 
neighbours  as  well  as  on  ourselves,  and  in  scat- 
tering misery  all  around  us  ?  We  are  so 
much  accustomed  to  commit  sin  in  our  own  per- 
sons, that  we  are  ever  willing  to  extenuate  crimes 
in  others.  Oh  that  men  would  reflect  more  fre- 
quently on  the  character  of  the  infinitely  great 
and  holy  Jehovah,  on  his  claim-s  to  their  obe- 
dience, and  on  the  duty  they  owe  to  their  neigh- 
bours ;  for  these  things  would  have  a  powerful 
influence  in  preventing  them  from  falling  into 
many  sins  which  are  now  too  frequently  indulged 
in.  If  the  question  be  again  asked,  what  harm 
there  can  be  in  disobeying  the  commands  of  Je- 
hovah ?  we  remind  the  inquirer  of  the  awful 
miseries  which  disobedience  has  scattered  over 
our  world  ;  of  the  bodily  diseases  and  the  mental 
anguish  it  has  inflicted  on  man  ;  of  the  prospect 
it  places  before  him  now  ;  and  of  the  unuttera- 
ble torment  to  which  it  introduces  him  beyond 
the  grave.  Let  the  furious  elements  of  nature, 
the  havocs  of  pestilence  and  famine,  the  dying 
sinner,  and  the  wretch  enduring  the  pains  of  per- 
dition, proclaim  in  our  ears,  that  it  is  an  evil 
thing  for  us  to  disobey  the  laws  of  Heaven^ 


THE    ENEMY    DISCOVERED.  257 

Achan,  having  deposited  the  property  he  had 
taken  under  his  tent,  imagined  that  the  sin  was 
secret,  and  would  never  be  discovered.  Had  he 
forgotten,  then,  the  declaration  of  Moses,  the  ser- 
vant of  God,  "Be  sure  your  sin  will  find  you 
out?"  Had  he  forgotten  that  the  Most  High 
witnessed  the  transaction,  and  did  he  suppose 
that  he  v/oiild  take  no  notice  of  it  ?  How  ready 
are  men  to  suppose  that  the  threatenings  of  Jeho- 
vah will  not  be  executed,  and  that  therefore  they 
may  sin  with  impunity.  Sin,  however,  will,  soon- 
er or  later,  be  published  to  the  world.  Sometimes, 
in  the  most  unexpected  manner,  the  guilty  culprit 
is  dragged  forth  in  the  present  state,  his  crimes  ex- 
posed, and  his  punishment  awarded.  At  some 
other  times  lie  succeeds  in  hiding  his  trangressions 
from  man  ;  but  let  him  not  forget  that  awful  pe- 
riod when  the  declaration  of  the  Lord  shall  be 
fulfilled,  *'  There  is  nothing  secret  that  shall  not 
be  manifest."  Jehovah  is  jealous  of  his  honour, 
must  be  faithful  to  his  word,  and  inflexibly  just 
in  his  government.  If  we  rebel  against  Him,  we 
must  suffer  the  awful  consequences  of  our  guilt. 

A  few  days  elapsed,  and  Joshua,  whose  fame 
both  among  the  Israelites  and  their  enemies,  was 
very  great,  sent  three  thousand  men  to  attack  the 
city  of  Ai,  a  place  containing  but  a  few  inhabit- 
?ints,  and  which  had  been  represented  to  him  as 


258  THE    ENEMY   DISCOVERED. 

capable  of  being  very  easily  obtained.  To  his 
surprise,  and  the  dismay  of  the  people,  however, 
his  army  was  defeated,  and  six-and-thirty  of  them 
destroyed.  Filled  with  discouragement  and  sor- 
row, Joshua  and  the  elders  of  Israel  humbled^ 
themselves  before  the  Lord,  and  humbly  inquir- 
ed the  cause  of  their  being  thus  conquered.  It 
was  so  great  a  change  for  them,  and  presented 
before  them  prospects  so  gloomy,  that  they  might 
well  imagine  that  some  important  reason  existed 
for  the  apparent  departure  of  that  great  Being 
who  had  hitherto  fought  their  battles  for  them. 

The  God  of  wisdom  and  of  goodness  seldom 
allows  those  who  humbly  seek  to  him  for  wisdom 
to  remain  long  in  perplexity.  Joshua  is  told, 
that  Jehovah  has  withdrawn  his  favour  because 
sin  has  been  committed  in  the  camp.  He  is  in- 
structed in  what  manner  to  find  out  the  sinner 
and  the  trangression,  and  told  in  what  way  pu- 
nishment shall  be  inflicted.  On  the  following 
morning  the  people  are  assembled,  lots  are  cast, 
and  the  culprit  is  discovered. 

The  scene  that  now  presents  itself  to  our 
view,  of  Achan  being  interrogated  by  Joshua,  is 
a  very  affecting  one.  The  affection,  the  piety, 
and  the  fidelity  of  the  great  leader  of  Israel,  ex- 
cite our  admiration,  and  present  to  magistrates 
an  example  of  the  spirit  in  which  they  should  at- 


THE    ENEMY    DISCOVERED.  259 

tend  to  their  arduous  duties.  Joshua  would  ra- 
ther have  been  excused  from  thus  examining  and 
punishing  Achan  ;  but,  as  it  must  be  done,  he 
will  exemplify  a  spirit  becoming  the  man  of  God, 
and  shew  that  the  law  is  put  into  execution,  not 
from  a  feeling  of  malignity  to  the  sinner,  but 
from  an  anxious  concern  for  the  public  welfare. 

It  is  rather  pleasing  to  hear  the  ingenuous  con- 
fession made  by  the  culprit  as  to  the  crime  he 
had  committed  :  but  who  does  not  regret  that 
his  confession  did  not  precede  his  detection  ? 
Confession  of  sin  may  come  too  late  to  be  of  any 
avail  to  us.  It  was  thus  with  Achan  and  with 
Judas.  If  the  day  of  mercy  has  passed,  and  the 
sentence  of  condemnation  has  issued  from  the 
lips  of  the  Judge,  the  sinner  may  acknowledge 
his  guilt,  but,  alas  1  he  must  reap  its  consequen- 
ces. 

It  is  a  dangerous  thing  to  connive  at  sin. 
This  seems  to  have  been  the  case  with  the  fami- 
ly  of  Achan  !  for  by  withholding  all  knowledge 
of  his  crime  from  those  to  whom  it  ought  to  have 
been  communicated,  they  made  themselves  par- 
takers of  his  guilt.  They  were  all  assembled, — 
the  things  he  had  taken  were  produced, — guilt 
was  brought  home  to  the  transgressors, — the 
righteous  sentence  of  Jehovah  was  passed  upon 
them, — "  and  all  Israel  stoned  them  witli  stones, 


260  THE    ENEMY    DISCOVERED. 

and  burned  them  with  fire  after  they  had  stoned 
them  with  stones." 

The  effect  of  this  solemn  execution  we  may  ima- 
fi^ine  to  have  been  sahUary.  The  Israehtes  would 
be  more  sensible  than  they  had  hitherto  been  of  the 
importance  of  a  diligent  attention  to  the  laws  ■  of 
God  ;  they  would  see  that  even  secret  transgres- 
sions would  not  be  overlooked  ;  they  would  learn 
the  importance  of  a  due  subjection  to  Joshua, 
the  servant  of  the  Lord  ;  and  it  would  lead  them 
to  the  exercise  of  the  utmost  vigilance  over  their 
own  minds,  lest  they  should  indulge  in  the  same 
sin. 

In  addition  to  these  important  lessons,  w^  may 
learn  from  this  melancholy  detail  of  facts,  that 
sin,  and  sin  only,  is  the  great  destroyer  of  human 
happiness,  and  that  it  becomes  us  to  guard  against 
its  commission  ourselves,  and  to  reprove  it  in 
others  ;  that  however  secretly  wickedness  may  be 
perpetrated,  it  will  assuredly  be  discovered  and 
punished  ;  that  even  the  vilest  sinners  should  be 
treated  by  us,  not  only  with  justice,  but  with  af- 
fection ;  that  for  confession  of  iniquity  to  be  ac- 
ceptable to  God,  it  should  be  made  immediately 
we  have  incurred  its  guilt ;  and  that  the  fact  of 
our  wickedness  injuring  others  as  well  as  our- 
selves, should  operate  upon  our  hearts  as  a  pow- 
erful motive  to  induce  us  to  refrain  from  it. 


THE 

AFFECTIONATE  DAUGHTER-IN-LAW. 


Where  is  the  breast,  that  e'er  can  riyal  Ruth 
In  tenderness,  susceptibility, 
And  fervour  of  affection  1 

A  NON. 

To  a  mind  at  all  impressed  with  roliojon^  il  is  a 
very  pleasing  thought,  that  all  our  affairs  are  un- 
der the  superintendence  of  the  Supreme  Being. 
The  most  minutOj  as  well  as  the  most  mighty 
events,  are  "  ordered  after  the  counsel  of  his  own 
will." — "  The  very  hairs  of  our  heads  are  all 
numbered  ;  and  not  a  sparrow  falls  to  the  ground 
without  the  notice  of  our  heavenly  Father."  The 
Book  of  Ruth  presents  us  with  a  series  of  strik- 
mg  and  instructive  events,  and  powerfully  illus- 
trates the  kindness  of  the  providential  govern- 
ment of  the  blessed  God  ;  shewing  us  how  he 
can  make  the  greatest  evils  subserve  his  gracious 
purposes  towards  his  people. 
23 


262  THE    AFFECTIONATE 

In  the  commencement  of  the  history,  the  in- 
spired writer  introduces  to  our  notice  a  very  in- 
teresting narrative  of  facts.  In  consequence  of 
the  sins  of  Israel,  Lev.  xxvi.  18 — 20,  their  land 
was  visited  with  a  sore  famine,  and  many  of  its 
inhabitants  were  induced  to  leave  the  place  en- 
deared to  them  by  their  birth,  and  a  thousand 
other  tender  associations,  and  sojourn  in  foreign 
countries.  Among  others  who  went  into  the 
land  of  Moab,  was  a  man  named  Elimelech,  hia 
wife,  who  was  called  Naomi,  and  their  two  sons, 
who  were  named  Mahlon  and  Chilion.  There 
seems  to  have  existed  no  pressing  necessity  for 
this  family  to  leave  their  religious  connexion ; 
since  many  of  their  neighbours  were  enabled  to 
brave  the  horrors  of  the  famine  :  besides  which, 
Elimelech's  family  was  but  small,  and  he  was  a 
man  of  some  property,  for  he  "  went  out  full :" 
but,  alas  !  anxiety  to  keep  and  increase  their 
property  often  induces  even  the  people  of  God  to 
run  into  the  way  of  temptation.  Thus  was  it  in 
the  case  of  Lot  ;  and  so,  on  the  present  occasion. 
After  a  continuance  of  some  time,  the  good  man 
died,  leaving  a  widow,  with  her  two  sons,  in  a 
strange  land.  Here,  however,  the  Lord  provid- 
ed for  them.  Though  the  poor  woman  had  to 
mourn  the  loss  of  an  affectionate  husband,  she 
had  comfort  in  iier  sons  ;  who,  soon  after,  took  to 


DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.  263 

themselves  "  wives  of  the  women  of  Moab."  It 
is  a  matter  of  lamentation  that  they  had  not  reli- 
gion enough  to  induce  them  to  select  companions 
so  intimate  from  among  their  own  kindred  :  but 
the  good  hand  of  God  was  pleased  in  this  case 
to  overrule  the  event  for  good.  Ruth's  marrying 
an  Israelite  led  to  her  conversion  to  God  ;  but 
let  not  this  be  considered  an  encouragement  for 
"  the  sons  of  God"  to  run  counter  to  his  positive 
commands,  in  taking  to  themselves  "  wives  of  the 
daughters  of  men  ;"  for  let  it  be  recollected,  that 
her  conversion  was  never  made  manifest  till  af- 
ter the  death  of  her  husband  ;  and,  probably,  it 
was  not  the  affectionate  expostulations  of  her 
partner,  but  his  death,  in  connexion  with  the  holy 
life,  the  conversation,  and  the  prayers  of  Naomi, 
which  brought  her  ultimately  to  God. 

The  marriage  of  her  sons  afforded  to  Naomi, 
we  may  readily  suppose,  no  small  source  of  plea- 
sure. Her  fond  imagination  pictured  scenes  of 
enjoyment  for  her  children  for  many  years  to 
come  ;  and  when  she  reflected  on  her  own  dis- 
tressing bereavement,  she  would  present  the  ar- 
dent prayer  that  her  sons  and  her  daughters-in- 
law  might  be  spared  as  blessings  to  each  other  ; 
"that  their  sons  might  be  as  plants  grown  up  in 
their  youth  ;  that  their  daughters  might  be  as 
corner-stones  polished  after  the  similitude  of  a 


264  THE    AFFECTIONATE 

palace."  She  hoped  to  see  her  grand-children 
rising  up  around  her,  and  to  have  the  opportuni- 
ty of  teUing  them,  for  their  instruction  and 
amusement,  the  scenes  of  her  youth,  and  the  acts 
of  that  beloved  individual  whom  she  had  laid  in 
the  tomb,  but  whose  name  and  memory  she  high- 
ly revered.  But.  alas  !  our  best  joys  are  fleeting 
and  short-lived  ;  in  a  very  few  years  her  sons 
were  cut  off,  and  their  wives  became  widows. 
Death,  the  universal  conqueror,  spares  no  age  ; 
he  favours  no  class  ;  he  cuts  asunder  the  closest 
ties,  and  separates  the  most  endearing  connexions. 
The  good  old  mother  committed  them  to  the 
grave ;  wept  over  their  ashes,  and  bowed  with 
submission  to  him  who  possesses  a  right  to  do  as 
he  pleases  with  his  creatures. 

Having  buried  her  dearest  hopes,  Naomi  resolv- 
ed on  leaving  the  land  of  her  sorrows,  and  return- 
ing to  her  pious  kindred  and  acquaintance.  She 
communicated  herdesign  to  her  daughters-in-law; 
who,  in  a  manner  that  indicated  their  kind  re- 
gard to  her,  resolved  to  accompany  her,  at  least 
a  part  of  her  journey.  When  they  had  proceeded 
some  distance,  the  venerable  woman,  feeling-  for 
their  situation,  and  anxious  to  save  them  from 
fatigue,  wished  them  to  "  return,  each  to  her  mo- 
ther's house  ;"  expressing  the  kindest  desires  on 
their  behalf :  <'  the  Lord  deal  kindly  with  you, 


DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.  265 

as  ye  have  dealt  with  the  dead  and  with  me : 
the  liord  grant  you  that  ye  may  find  rest,  each 
of  you  in  the  house  of  her  husband.  Then  she 
kissed  them,  and  they  Ufted  up  their  voice  and 
wept."  Who  can  read  unmoved  the  description 
of  a  scene  hke  this  ?  How  suitable  a  subject  for 
the  pencil  of  the  painter  !  How  many  tender  as- 
sociations rise  up  in  each  of  their  minds  !  One 
almost  hears  the  prayer  of  this  aged  widow  for 
these  her  daughters  in  affliction  ;  and  we  won- 
der not  to  hear  them  saying,  "  Surely  we  will  re- 
turn with  thee  unto  thy  people."  Such  was  the 
resolution  of  each  for  the  moment.  Are  not  many 
of  our  pious  resolutions  the  result  of  an  equally 
transient  feeling?  If  so,  it  is  no  wonder  that, 
like  Orpah,  we  are  soon  moved  from  our  pur- 
pose, and  turn  back  into  the  world.  The  good 
woman  seems  to  have  mdulged  the  apprehen- 
sion, that  mere  natural  affection  led  them  to 
speak  thus,  and  again  presses  them  to  return. 
Orpah  consented — kissed  her,  and  returned :  but 
Ruth  possessed  a  regard  to  her  that  was  more 
than  natural.  Her  mind  had  been  impressed 
with  the  importance  of  religion  ;  she  had  wit- 
nessed Naomi's  holy  conduct;  and  had  become 
convinced  of  the  superior  excellence  of  her  cha- 
racter ;  and  "  Ruth  clave  unto  her  :"  nor  could 
any  argument  that  Naomi  used,  with  a  view  to 
23* 


266  THE    AFFECTIONATE 

try  her  sincerity,  induce  her  to  depart  from  her 
purpose,  "  for  Ruth  said,  Entreat  me  not  to  leave 
thee,  or  to  return  from  following  after  thee  :  for 
whither  thou  goest,  I  will  go ;  and  where  thou 
lodgest,  I  will  lodge  :  thy  people  shall  be  my  peo- 
ple, and  thy  God,  my  God  ;  where  thou  diest,  will 
I  die,  and  there  will  I  be  buried :  the  Lord  do  so 
to  me,  and  more  also,  if  aught  but  death  part  thee 
and  me."  How  decided  her  conduct !  How 
evident  a  proof  of  attachment,  not  merely  to  her 
person,  but  to  her  religion  !  And,  oh  !  with 
what  joy  must  Naomi  have  been  filled,  when  she 
discovered  the  genuine  conversion  of  her  daugh- 
ter-in-law !  Will  the  reader  favour  me  with  his 
attention,  while  I  attempt  to  investigate  the  prin- 
ciples on  which  the  determination  of  Ruth  was 
founded — explain  the  import  of  the  determina- 
tion— and  urge  some  motives  to  induce  him  to 
adopt  it  as  his  own  ? 

Let  us,  then,  investigate  the  principles  on 
which  the  determination  of  Ruth  was  founded. 
It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  remark,  that  this  reso- 
lution exhibits  a  change  of  heart ;  for  however 
amiable  may  be  the  manners  of  a  person,  how- 
ever generous  his  natural  disposition,  or  how- 
ever polished  his  education,  yet  does  there  exist 
in  the  soul  no  real  regard  to  the  religion  of  the 
Bible,  till  it  has  been  renewed  by  the  grace  of 


DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.  267 

God.  This  grace  led  Ruth  to  the  determinfition 
before  us,  which  was  founded  on  faith  in  Divine 
revelation.  She  had  been  educated  an  heathen, 
in  a  land  whose  inhabitants  knew  not  the  true 
God.  But  perhaps  her  deceased  husband,  and 
certainly  her  pious  mother-in-law,  had  unfolded 
to  her  tlie  truths  of  the  religion  of  Israel,  and  di- 
rected her  attention  to  that  great  Messiah  to 
whom  the  types  and  sacrifices  all  pointed,  and 
"  the  testimony  of  whom  was  the  spirit  of  pro- 
phecy." Enlightened  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  she 
fully  credited  the  truths  of  his  word  ;  and,  con- 
vinced at  once  of  the  vanity  of  the  world,  and  of 
the  infinite  superiority  of  the  religion  founded  on 
"  the  oracles  of  God,"  she  abandoned  her  own 
country,  her  people,  and  her  profession  of  idola- 
try, and  determined  henceforth  to  rank  with  the 
people  of  the  God  of  heaven. 

This  resolution  was  founded,  too,  on  holy  love. 
True  religion,  whether  it  be  considered  in  its  na- 
ture, its  origin,  or  its  effects,  may  be  summed  up 
in  this  one  word — Love.  Its  great  author,  "  God, 
is  love."  Its  design  is,  to  make  us,  like  our  Ma- 
ker, full  of  love ;  and  "love  is  the  fulfilling  of 
the  law."  Ruth  had  love  to  Jehovah.  Had  she 
continued  in  her  natural  state  of  alienation  from 
her  Maker; — had  she  still  been  numbered  with  the 
"  haters  of  God,"  we  had  never  heard  this  Ian- 


868  THE   AFFECTIONATE 

giiage  proceeding  from  her  lips.     Perhaps,  like 
eome  of  my  readers,  she  had  been  the  votary  of 
pleasure ;  and  had  fixed  her  affections  on  the 
vanities  of  the  present  world.     Many  a  prayer 
had  been  presented  to  God  on  her  behalf;  and, 
at  length,  the  Holy  Spirit  is  pleased  to  open  the 
eyes  of  her  understanding ;  to  shew  her  the  loveli- 
ness of  the  Divine  character,  the  perfect  rectitude 
of  his  law,  and  the  obligations  she  lay  under  to 
obey  it.     Thus  was  she  loved  by  the  Supreme 
Being,  and  is  now  constrained  to  love  him  in 
return,  and  freely  to  engage  in  his  service.     She 
loved  the  cause  of  Holiness.     Perhaps  some  of 
my  readers  wonder  why  we  can  love  religion  : 
there  is,  in  their  view,  every  thing  in  it  that  is 
discouraging  and  gloomy.      And  did  we  not 
know,  kind  reader,  the  awful  depravity  of  the 
human  heart,  and  its  liability  to  make  the  great- 
est mistakes,  we  should  wonder  that  you  can  re- 
ject it.     Ruth  once  thought  that  happiness  was 
to  be  found  in  the  world :  but  she  afterwards 
happily  discovered  that  it  was  only  in  religion. 
Heie  are   solid  pleasures !      Here  are  durable 
riches  !     Here  are  unfading  honours  !     This  she 
saw,  and  resolved  to  engage  in  the  service  of 
God.     She  was  influenced  by  love  to  the  people 
of  Jehovah.     One  of  the  first  and  clearest  evi- 
dences of  our  return  to  God  is  attachment  to  his 


DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.  269 

people,  because  they  belong  to  him.  We  see 
them  as  •'  the  excellent  of  the  earth  ;"  in  them 
we  place  "  all  our  delightj"  because  they  bear 
the  image  of  the  Saviour  ;  they  are  pursuing  the 
Divine  glory — they  are  travelling  to  that  happy 
world,  where  they  hope  to  reside  for  ever  with 
Jesus.  Thus,  loving  the  people  of  God,  "  Ruth 
clave  to  Naomi,"  and  resolved  to  adopt  holy  peo- 
ple as  her  companions. 

Equally  apparent  is  it,  that  she  was  led  to  this 
determination  by  genuine  humility,  and  a  sense 
of  her  need  of  relioous  intercourse.  While  the 
proud  worldling  disdains  the  thought  of  being 
associated  with  the  people  of  Jehovah,  who  are 
generally  regarded  with  contempt ;  those  who 
have  been  enlightened  by  Divine  grace,  who  have 
felt  their  own  ignorance,  and  have  learnt  the  su- 
perior excellence  of  the  righteous,  know  that 
many  advantages  result  from  a  connexion  with 
them ;  and,  therefore,  they  say,  like  Ruth,  "  En- 
treat me  not  to  leave  thee."  Few  things  present 
better  evidence  of  genuine  conversion,  than  a 
deep  conviction  of  our  ignorance,  and  of  our 
need  of  instruction  in  the  way  to  heaven. 
There  are  some  persons,  who,  having  re- 
ceived an  education  superior  to  many  by  whom 
they  are  surrounded,  feel  a  spirit  of  lofty  inde- 
pendence, and  imagine  themselves  (Qualified  to 


270  THE    AFFECTIONATE 

teach  rather  than  to  learn  :  but  when  humbled 
by  religion,  they  discover  their  ignorance,  and 
are  ready  to  ask  even  the  weakest  Christian  for 
advice  and  encouragement.  In  other  things, 
perhaps,  Ruth  might  know  more  than  her  mo- 
ther-in-law ;  but  in  rehgion  she  felt  Naomi's  su- 
periority ;  she  had  discovered  her  own  liability 
to  foil  into  the  temptations  of  Satan,  and  the 
snares  of  the  world,  and  wished  to  enjoy  inter- 
course with  an  aged  believer,  who  was  "  not 
ignorant  of  his  devices."  Tliis  was  a  praisewor- 
thy resolution.  Apollos,  with  all  his  eloquence 
and  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  gladly  asso- 
ciated with  Aquila  and  Priscilla,  that  he  might 
learn  "  the  way  of  the  Lord  more  perfectly ;" 
being  assured  that,  "  he  that  walketh  with  wise 
men  shall  be  wise." 

But  let  us  briefly  explain  the  import  of  the  de- 
termination itself  Ruth  did  not  utter  this  lan- 
guage without  thought ;  nor  did  she  enter  on  a 
life  of  religion  without  counting  the  cost.  The 
determination  implies,  the  renunciation  of  idola- 
try. "Thy  God  shall  be  my  God."  She  had 
been  brought  up  among  pagans  ;  she  had  been 
accustomed  to  bow  the  knee  before  dumb  idols  ; 
but  having  now  been  taught  the  folly  of  this 
worship,  she  dedicated  her  service  to  the  God  of 
Israel.     Perhaps  my  reader  imagines  that  there 


DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.  271 

exists  no  present  necessity  to  exhort  persons,  at 
least  in  this  country,  to  forsake  idolatry  :  but, 
alas  !  do  not  too  many  set  their  hearts  on  the 
world,  and  give  up  their  best  affections  to  its  pur- 
suits and  its  pleasures  7  Is  not  the  creature  often 
loved  more  than  the  Creator  ?  Are  there  not 
many,  of  whom  Paul  would  say,  ''  whose  god 
is  their  belly?"  These  idols  must  all  be  re- 
nounced before  we  can  acceptably  serve  the  true 
God. 

We  may  farther  observe,  that  this  determina- 
tion includes  a  solemn  engagement,  notwithstand- 
ing every  difficulty,  to  abide  by  the  people  of 
God. — "  Where  thou  goest,  I  will  go;  where  thou 
lodgest,  I  will  lodge  ;  where  thou  diest,  I  will  die," 
&c.  It  is  a  fact,  which  we  are  by  no  means  anx- 
ious to  conceal,  that  sorrows  attend  a  connexion 
with  the  people  of  God.  If  we  adhere  to  them, 
we  shall  meet  with  persecution  from  the  world, 
and  often  with  trials  from  the  church.  Not- 
withstanding this,  when  our  hearts  are  properly 
influenced  by  a  sense  of  the  advantages  arising 
from  such  a  connexion,  we  shall,  like  Moses, 
"  choose  rather  to  suffer  affliction  with  the  people 
of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of  sin  for  a 
season  ;"  and,  like  Ruth,  say  to  them,  "entreat 
me  not  to  leave  you."  Among  the  people  of  Jeho- 
vah we  are  instructed  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Di- 


272  THE    AFFECTIONATE 

vine  will,  comforted  in  the  day  of  trial,  reproved 
and  admonished  in  the  hour  of  danger,  encou- 
rao-ed  in  our  conflict  with  the  powers  of  dark- 
ness, and  helped  forward  in  the  way  to  heaven. 

Not  less  does  the  determination  imply  an  entire 
devotedness  to  the  work  of  God.  It  is  not  the 
spirit  of  indecision  which  is  breathed  in  the  lan- 
o-uao-e  of  Ruth,  but  of  entire  consecration  to  the 
cause  she  had  espoused.  There  is  an  object  the 
people  of  God  have  to  promote ;  a  spirit  they 
have  to  exhibit;  duties  they  have  to  discharge; 
and  these  things  require  the  exertions  of  all  our 
enero-ies.  To  the  great  business  of  religion,  Ruth 
brought  her  whole  soul :  she  felt  that  if  religion 
was  of  importance  at  all,  it  was  all-important, 
and  as  such  she  embraced  it  and  discharged  its 
duties.  Such  a  line  of  conduct  would  I  recom- 
mend to  my  readers,  and  beg  leave  to  urge  some 
motives  to  induce  them  to  adopt  the  determina- 
tion as  their  own.  We  are  swayed  in  our  deci- 
sions on  important  matters  by  what  appears  to  us 
the  greatest  means  of  happiness.  The  greatest 
possible  good,  then,  may  be  urged  why  you 
should  adopt  the  resolution  of  adherence  to  the 
service  of  God  ;  as  it  will  most  entirely  promote 
your  respectability  and  happiness.  Resolving  on 
a  union  with  the  people  of  God,  you  will  be  most 
eftectiially  freed  from  the  company  of  the  vile 


DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.  273 

and  abandoned.  The  drunkard  and  the  swearer, 
the  sabbath-breaker  and  the  whoremonger,  with 
the  long  Ust  of  guilty  criminals,  will  keep  at  a  dis- 
tance from  you,  and  shun  you  as  though  you  had 
the  plague.  The  pleasures  arising  from  an  atten- 
tion to  divine  ordinances,  from  association  with 
the  people  of  God,  from  communion  with  Hea- 
ven, will  all  be  yours.  Really  one  in  heart  with 
the  people  of  God  on  earth,  you  are  united  to  the 
*'  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect"  in  heaven. 
The  wise  and  good  regard  persons  like  Ruth  with 
esteem  :  angels  in  heaven  behold  them  with  de- 
light; and,  above  all,  God  himself  bestows  on  them 
his  infinite  favours.  Nor  are  such  characters 
blest  only  in  their  own  persons,  but  they  are 
made  blessings  to  others.  By  espousing  the  cause 
of  religion,  you  become  witnesses  for  the  Supreme 
Being,  promote  his  cause,  and  are  blessings  to  all 
around  you. 

Thus  you  will  increase  the  happiness  of  your 
pious  friends.  I  am  sure  I  may  stand  forth  as 
the  representative  of  every  pious  parent  in  the 
world,  and  say,  "  I  have  no  greater  joy  than  to 
hear  that  my  children  walk  in  the  truth."  No- 
thing on  earth,  my  reader,  can  equal  the  happi- 
ness of  the  good  man,  when  he  sees  his  neigh- 
bours around  him  becoming  decided  for  the 
cause  of  religion.  For  you  the  pious  relative, 
24 


274  THE    AFFECTIONATE 

the  zealous  Christian,  and  the  affectionate  minis- 
ter, often  pray.  O  !  let  them  not  pray  in  vain, 
but  give  up  yourselves  to  the  service  of  your 
Creator. 

Thus  you  will  most  effectually  glorify  God. 
The  grand  design  of  our  creation  is,  that  we  may 
promote  the  glory  of  our  Maker,  by  shewing 
forth  the  greatness  of  his  character,  and  our 
sense  of  the  value  of  his  benefits.  And  never 
can  we  do  this  so  effectually,  as  by  submitting 
to  his  government,  and  obeying  his  laws.  The 
man  who  does  not  thus  glorify  Jehovah,  is  in  a 
state  of  rebellion  against  him. 

Once  more  :  by  embracing  the  service  of  God, 
you  secure  your  future  happiness.  This  is  true 
as  it  respects  the  present  world.  The  piety  of 
Ruth  led  to  her  comfort  and  happiness  on  earth. 
"  Them  that  honour  me,  I  will  honour  ;"  is  the 
declaration  of  the  Deity ;  and  thousands  beside 
Ruth  have  bettered  their  worldly  circumstances 
by  religion.  But  what  is  the  possession  of  wealth, 
compared  with  the  joys  of  communion  with 
Christ,  and  all  the  blessings  he  bestows  upon  us, 
while  in  this  waste,  howling  wilderness  ?  But 
supposing  we  should,  while  here,  remain  poor, 
how  vast  the  enjoyments  of  religion  beyond  the 
grave  ! 

It  endless  happiness  secures, 
And  frees  from  endless  death ! 


DAUGHTER-IN-LAW.  275 

"Godliness  is  profitable  for  all  things,  having 
the  promise  of  the  life  that  now  is,  and  of  that 
which  is  to  come." 

In  closing  this  paper,  we  remark  :  How  amiable 
was  the  character  of  Naomi  in  encouraging  Ruth. 
— What  encouragement  is  here  given  to  pious 
parents  to  educate  their  children  in  the  fear  of 
God. — And  how  abiding  the  nature  of  religious 
affection ;  extending  not  merely  to  time,  but  be- 
yond the  grave.  May  the  resolution  of  Ruth  be 
that  of  each  of  my  readers ;  may  they  possess 
her  religion,  and  experience  her  enjoyments. 


THE   HAPPY   GLEANER. 

RUTH  II. — IV. 

Then  throw  that  shameful  pittance  from  thy  hand, 
But  ill  applied  to  such  a  rugged  task  i 
The  fields,  the  master,  all  my  Fair  !  are  thine  ; 
If  to  the  various  blessings  which  thy  house 
Has  on  me  lavish'd,  thou  wilt  add  the  bliss — 
That  dearest  bliss — the  power  of  blessing  thee: 

Thomson. 

To  the  philosopher  and  man  of  general  learning, 
it  is  a  pleasing  employment  to  study  the  history 
of  human  nature.  He  selects  an  individual,  and 
marks  with  interest  the  effects  produced  on  his 
feelings  and  conduct  by  passing  events  ;  and  thus 
is  the  observer  furnished  with  the  wisdom  which 
guides  the  statesman  in  the  government  of  na- 
tions, and  influences  the  merchant  in  his  dealings 
with  mankind.  The  Christian  is  not  uninter- 
ested in  speculations  of  this  kind  ;  but  he  has 
afar  more  delightful  employment  in  tracing  the 
operations  of  Divine  grace  on  the  soul ;  in  mark- 
ing the  influence  of  holy  and  heavenly  principles 


THE    HAPPY    GLEANER.  277 

on  the  experience  and  conduct.  Here  we  see  a 
change  made  in  nature  itself;  the  lion  is  trans- 
formed into  a  lamb,  or  the  amiable  character  is 
made  still  more  lovely.  Thus  we  are  led  to  ad- 
mire the  grace  of  God — to  desire  its  operations  on 
our  own  hearts — and  to  be  concerned  for  its  spread 
through  the  world.  On  these  accounts  it  is,  that 
religious  biography  has  always  been  considered 
so  profitable  a  study  ;  and  certainly  no  mode  of 
writing,  when  judiciously  executed,  is  more  cal- 
culated to  answer  every  good  purpose. 

It  is  a  distinguishing  excellence  of  the  Biblq^ 
that  its  characters  are  drawn  without  exaggera- 
tion or  false  colouring.  The  sacred  writers  re- 
late a  series  of  facts  connected  with  the  conduct 
of  individuals  ;  and  it  is  from  reading  these  sim- 
ple, unadorned  narratives,  that  our  minds  re- 
ceive their  impressions,  as  to  the  general  charac- 
ter of  the  persons  who  pass  before  us.  Who  can 
read  the  Book  of  Ruth,  without  feelings  of  the 
greatest  pleasure  and  admiration?  Who  can 
behold  a  young  female  descended  from  royalty, 
for  the  sake  of  religion,  bidding  adieu  to  her  na- 
tive land — taking  leave  of  her  earliest  associates 
— going  to  a  strange  country— and  becoming  a 
gleaner  in  the  harvest-field  for  the  support  of  her- 
self and  her  aged  mother-in-law,  without  adoring 
24* 


278  THE    HAPPY    GLEANER. 

the  ^race  of  God  which  can  produce  such  lovely 
characters  in  this  degenerate  world  ? 

With  feelings  like  these,  let  us  advance  to  view 
the  conduct  of  Ruth  the  Moabitess.  Under  the  in- 
fluence of  genuine  religion,  she  had  accompanied 
the  pious  Naomi  to  the  poor,  but  most  interesting 
of  all  towns — that  of  Bethlehem.  But  what 
was  she  to  do  there  ?  She  had  been  accustomed 
to  enjoy  the  richest  bounties  of  Providence  :  her 
industry  had  never  been  called  forth  to  obtain  a 
livehhood.  She  had  been  gratified,  probably,  in 
all  her  wishes,  first  by  affectionate  parents,  and 
afterwards  by  an  indulgent  husband :  but  now 
she  was  the  companion  of  a  poor  old  woman,  a 
widow,  one  who  had  been  rich,  but  now,  alas ! 
so  poor,  and  so  changed  in  appearance,  as  scarce- 
ly to  be  known  by  her  old  acquaintances.  Here 
we  see  the  triumph  of  principle,  and  mark  the 
power  of  religion  !  Possessing  this,  Ruth  was 
not  afraid  to  be  poor ;  for,  like  Moses,  she  had 
"  an  eye  to  the  recompense  of  reward."  She 
did  not  indulge  in  hard  and  murmuring  thoughts 
of  God.  Naomi  might  manifest  an  unholy  and 
discontented  spirit,  and  say,  "the Lord  hath  dealt 
bitterly  with  me ;"  but  Ruth  had  acquired  the 
happy  art  of  bringing  her  mind  down  to  her  cir- 
-cumstanccs ;  and  she  cheerfully  entered  the  field 
— associated   with   the  poor — endured  the  heat 


THE    HAPPY    GLEANER.  279 

and  burden  of  the  day — and,  with  thankfulness 
to  God  and  man,  gathered  the  precious  Iruits  of 
the  earth  for  the  sustenance  of  herself  and  her 
honoured  and  pious  relative.  How  attentive  was 
she  to  her  parent !  How  courteous  to  all  around 
her !  How  industrious  iu  the  discharge  of  her 
duty  !  And  what  a  noble  soul  did  she  display  in 
becoming  a  humble  reaper  !  Yes,  Ruth  present- 
ed, in  the  harvest  field,  a  far  more  lovely  and  at- 
tractive object  than  our  modern  belles  of  flishion, 
who  owe  their  honours,  not  to  solid  worth — ^ 
not  to  the  exalted  principles  by  which  they  are 
governed — but  to  their  dress,  their  tinsel  accom- 
plishments, or  to  their  respectable  connexions. 

Honour  and  shame  from  no  condition  rise  ; 
Act  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honour  lies. 

In  what  a  singular  manner  did  Divine  Provi* 
dence  appear  to  raise  Ruth  in  her  circumstances 
and  in  society  !  "  The  tender  mercies  of  God 
are  over  all  his  works  ;"  but  those  who  love  him 
are  the  objects  of  his  peculiar  regard.  To  them 
he  maketh  his  angels  ministering  spirits  ;  for 
them  he  raises  up  friends  in  the  day  of  adversity  ; 
and  with  them  he  maketh  even  their  enemies  to 
be  at  peace.  What  a  series  of  pleasing  events 
were  altendant  on  Ruth's  gleaning  !     We  mar- 


280  THE    HAPPY    GLEANER. 

vel  at  the  providence  which  led  her  to  this  field. 
She  knew  nothing  of  Boaz  being  a  relative. 
She  was  unacquainted  with  his  being  the  owner 
of  the  field ;  "  her  hap  was  to  light  on  a  part  of 
the  field  that  belonged  to  Boaz  :"  all  appeared  to 
be  mere  accident,  but  all  was  under  the  direction 
of  that  God  who  "  numbers  the  very  hairs  of 
our  heads."  ''  It  is  not  in  man  that  walketh  to  di- 
rect his  steps  ;"  all  our  movements,  however  tri- 
fling they  may  appear  to  us,  are  under  the  go- 
vernment of  Jehovah,  and  are  accomplishing  the 
designs  of  his  infinite  wisdom.  We  admire  the 
character  of  Ruth  herself  How  much  modesty, 
industry,  courteousness,  and  humility,  were  ap- 
parent in  her  whole  conduct !  All  around 
were  pleased  with  her  deportment.  There  is 
something  dignified  in  the  character  of  the  truly 
pious,  which  excites  the  admiration  even  of  the 
thoughtless  and  profane.  When  in  the  company 
of  such  persons,  we  seem  to  live  in  another  at- 
mosphere, to  possess  a  new  order  of  feelings,  and 
to  find  a  restraint  on  our  wicked  inclinations. 
When  Boaz  entered  the  field,  with  the  simplicity 
and  piety  of  the  ancient  patriarchs,  he  observed 
a  stranger  ;  and  whether  he  was  struck  with  her 
dignified  mien,  with  her  amiable  deportment,  or 
with  the  marked  respect  his  men  paid  to  her,  we 
know  not ;  but  it  is  probable,  that  He  who  "  has 


TEIE    HAPPY    GLEANER.  281 

the  hearts  of  all  men  in  his  hands,  and  who  turn- 
eth  them  which  way  soever  pleaseth  him,"  in- 
chned  Boaz  to  inquire  about  her  ;  and  when  he 
found  she  was  related  to  him,  he  did  not  despise 
her,  he  did  not  order  her  removal,  and  forbid  her 
again  to  enter  his  field  ;  but  he  commanded  his 
men  to  treat  her  kindly,  and  encouraged  her  to 
take  whatever  portion  she  pleased,  of  the  food 
provided  for  his  servants.  His  men  were  fur- 
ther instructed  to  let  fall  some  ears  of  grain  for 
her,  that  she  might  have  an  abundance.  How 
deep  the  impression  of  her  gratitude  to  Boaz  ! 
How  full  of  joy  was  Naomi,  when  she  saw,  in  the 
evening,  the  result  of  her  day's  labour  in  the  har- 
vest field  !  And  how  does  the  fascinating  story 
twine  around  our  hearts,  and  fill  us  with  an  in- 
terest unknown  to  the  readers  of  tales  and  ro- 
mances !  They  gratify  our  imaginations,  and 
furnish  us  with  food  to  cherish  our  natural  de- 
pravity ;  but  here  the  angel  of  truth  enlightens 
our  minds,  kindles  our  best  affections,  and  soft- 
ens and  sanctifies  our  souls. 

So  far  the  history  is  distinguished  for  its  sim- 
plicity ;  but  we  are  now  arrived  at  a  part  of  the 
narrative  which  seems  to  need  some  illustration 
and  defence.  I  allude  to  the  advice  given  by 
Naomi  to  Ruth,  as  to  the  manner  in  which  a 
marriage  was  to  be  brought  about  between  her 


282  THE    HAPPY   GLEANER. 

and  Boaz.  I  fear  that  Naomi  cannot,  in  this  in- 
stance be  entirely  freed  from  blame  !  but  there 
are  several  things  to  be  heard  in  extenuation  of 
her  conduct,  which  it  would  not,  by  any  means, 
be  advisable  for  us  to  imitate. 

Let  it  then  be  remembered,  that  the  manners  of 
those  times,  and  of  that  country,  were  peculiarly 
simple,  and  free  from  those  refinements  which 
modern  vices  have  compelled  us  to  adopt.  Noa- 
mi,  too,  knew  the  pious  and  chaste  characters 
both  of  Boaz  and  Ruth.  Added  to  which,  Boaz 
was  an  old  man ;  the  Jews  say  he  was  eighty 
years  of  age,  and  that  he  was  remarkable  for  his 
gravity.  Besides  this,  Noami  considered  them  in 
the  eye  of  God,  by  the  appointment  of  his  law,  as 
husband  and  wife  ;  and  it  appears,  that  had  he 
been,  as  they  supposed,  the  nearest  relative,  she 
would  have  had  a  right  to  make  upon  him  the 
demand  of  marriage.  We  repeat  it,  however, 
Naomi  cannot  probably  be  freed  from  blame. 
Her  conduct  proves  that  the  most  pious  persons 
are  imperfect ;  and  it  leads  us  to  admire  the  wise 
providence  of  God  which  could  overrule  this 
event  for  good. 

But  to  return  :  We  are  soon  called  to  see  this 
amiable  young  woman,  who  had  so  cheerfully 
sacrificed  the  comforts  of  this  life  for  the  sake  of 
religious  privileges,  and  who  had  so  honourably 


THE    HAPPY    GLEANER.  283 

worked  with  her  hands  for  the  maintenance  of 
herself  and  her  mother-in-law,  become  the  wife 
of  Boaz,  a  man  of  piety  and  of  wealth  :  she  was 
raised  to  a  station  in  society  for  which  her  birth, 
her  education,  and  her  piety  had  eminently  fitted 
her.  The  sphere  of  her  usefulness  was  thus 
considerably  enlarged  ;  her  sorrows  were  forgot- 
ten in  the  house  of  her  husband  ;  she  became  the 
happy  mother  of  children,  and  provided  for  the 
venerable  mother  in  Israel,  who  had  manifested 
so  much  concern  for  her  welfare.  Nor  must  it 
be  forgotten,  that  the  blessed  God  conferred  a 
high  honour  on  this  Gentile,  by  placing  her 
among  those  from  whom  the  Messiah  should 
spring. 

We  learn  from  this  narrative,  the  mysterious 
nature  of  divine  Providence  :  "  He  raiseth  up  one 
and  putteth  down  another  ;  his  footsteps  are  in 
the  great  deep  and  his  paths  are  not  known." 
We  see  the  advantages  connected  with  decision  of 
religious  character.  Ruth  went,  notwithstanding 
every  forbidding  and  trying  circumstance,  wher- 
ever she  believed  it  to  be  her  duty  to  go ;  she 
was  more  afraid  of  sin  than  of  poverty  ;  she  ho- 
noured God,  and  God  honoured  her.  We  feel 
the  propriety  of  committing  all  our  concerns  to 
Jehovah,  depending  on  his  providence  for  future 
supplies  :  "  in  all  thy  ways  acknowledge  him, 
and  he  shall  direct  thy  paths." 


284  THE    HAPPY    GLEANER. 

Fear  God,  ye  saints,  and  you  will  then 

Have  nothing  else  to  fear: 
Make  you  his  service  your  delight, 

Your  wants  shall  te  his  care. 

And,  finally,  we  see  the  importance  of  con- 
ducting ourselves  in  a  suitable  manner  in  the  sta- 
tion in  which  divine  Providence  has  placed  us  ; 
not  encouraging  a  spirit  of  restless  anxiety  and 
ambition,  but  resting  assured,  that,  if  God  plea- 
ses, he  can  raise  us  in  the  scale  of  society ;  and 
that,  if  consistent  with  his  infinitely  wise  and 
gracious  plans,  it  will  be  done.  To  please  him, 
and  to  be  governed  by  the  principles  of  his  word, 
should  be  our  constant  aim ;  and  in  some  way  or 
other,  in  this  world  or  the  next,  he  will  prove  the 
truth  of  his  own  declaration:  "Them  that  ho- 
nour me,  I  will  honour." 


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